something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence

Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.

power to produce results; efficacy; force; validity; influence

His protest had no effect.

the state of being effective or operative; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment

to bring a plan into effect.

a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or a speech.

meaning or sense; purpose or intention

She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.

the making of a desired impression

We had the feeling that the big, expensive car was only for effect.

an illusory phenomenon

a three-dimensional effect.

a real phenomenon (usually named for its discoverer)

the Doppler effect.

special effects.

to produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish; make happen

The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.

in effect

for practical purposes; virtually

His silence was in effect a confirmation of the rumor.

essentially; basically.

operating or functioning; in force

The plan is now in effect.

take effect

to go into operation; begin to function.

to produce a result

The prescribed medicine failed to take effect.

noun

beginning , cause , commencement , foundation , origin , source , start

verb

fail , forget , ignore , neglect , overlook

noun

aftereffect , aftermath , backlash , backwash , can of worms * , causatum , chain reaction * , conclusion , consequence , corollary , denouement , development , end , end product , event , eventuality , fallout , flak * , follow through , follow-up , fruit , issue , outcome , outgrowth , precipitate , pursuance , ramification , reaction , reflex , repercussion , response , sequel , sequence , side effect , spin-off , upshot * , wavesnotes:as a noun , affect means \'a feeling or emotion , \' whereas effect means \'the result or consequence of some action or process\'; as a verb , to affect means \'to exert an influence upon , \' and implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction , whereas to effect means \'to bring about as a result\'effect is a noun referring to a thing , but if you mean an action , that is affect ; if you want the verb meaning \'achieve , bring about , \' that is effect , action , clout , drift , effectiveness , efficacy , efficiency , enforcement , essence , execution , fact , force , implementation , import , imprint , influence , mark , meaning , power , purport , purpose , reality , sense , significance , strength , tenor , use , validity , vigor , weightnotes:as a noun , harvest , result , resultant , sequent , upshot , effectuality , effectualness , efficaciousness , potency , actualization , being , materialization , realization , belonging , good , lares and penates , personal effects , personal property , possession , property , thing , a posteriori , appearance , augmentation , effectivity , efficacity , encroachment , enhancement , ensemble , impingement , infringement , intent , manifestation , performance , placebo effect , residuum , weight

verb

achieve , actualize , actuate , begin , bring about , bring off , bring on , buy , carry through , cause , complete , conceive , conclude , consummate , create , do a number , do one’s thing , do the job , do the trick , do to a t , draw on , effectuate , enact , enforce , execute , fulfill , generate , get across , get to , give rise to , implement , induce , initiate , invoke , make , make it , make waves , perform , procure , produce , pull it off , put across , realize , render , secure , sell , turn out , turn the trick , unzip , yieldnotes:as a noun , affect means \'a feeling or emotion , \' whereas effect means \'the result or consequence of some action or process\'; as a verb , to affect means \'to exert an influence upon , \' and implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction , whereas to effect means \'to bring about as a result\'effect is a noun referring to a thing , but if you mean an action , that is affect ; if you want the verb meaning \'achieve , \' that is effect , bring , ingenerate , lead to , occasion , result in , set off , stir , touch off , trigger , carry out , put through , accomplish , acquire , advantage , augment , avail , compass , conduce , consequence , emotion , enhance , expression , hypothesis , impact , import , impression , influence , intent , mark , operate , outcome , phenomenon , potentiate , purport , ramification , redound , result , sequel , upshot