affect
gb/ˈæfɛkt/ us/ˈæfɛkt/
B1
English
~ 800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
to influence or change something
To make someone or something change in some way.
Usage pattern:
to affect [something/someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'affect' (verb) with 'effect' (noun). 'Affect' is an action; 'effect' is a result.
Synonyms
influence (Often suggests a more indirect or subtle effect than 'affect'.)
Antonyms
leave alone (Means to not change or influence something.)
Collocations
affect performance
|affect health
|affect results
|affect mood
|affect decision
Themes
general
|emotions
|science
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new law will affect how small businesses operate.
- His words deeply affected her mood.
- Poor weather conditions affected the outcome of the game.
- The medication may affect your ability to drive.
- Economic changes can affect everyone in the country.
Learner examples
- The rain will affect our trip.
- Her smile affects me a lot.
- Loud noise affects my baby.
- Cold weather affects plants.
- This news will affect the team.
Verb
formal
B2
action
2
to cause an emotional response
To make someone feel strong emotions.
Usage pattern:
to affect [someone] deeply/emotionally
Synonyms
touch (More informal and often warmer in tone than 'affect'.)
Antonyms
leave unmoved (To have no emotional impact on someone.)
Collocations
affect deeply
|affect emotionally
|affect profoundly
Themes
emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The tragic story affected everyone in the room.
- Her kindness affected me more than I expected.
- The film's ending deeply affected the audience.
Learner examples
- The sad movie affected me.
- Her words affected him a lot.
- The music affected my feelings.
Verb
formal
C1
action
3
to pretend to have a feeling or quality
To pretend to have a feeling or quality.
Usage pattern:
to affect [an emotion/manner/accent]
Synonyms
feign ('Feign' is more literary and formal.)
Antonyms
display genuinely (To show real feelings rather than pretending.)
Collocations
affect ignorance
|affect surprise
|affect a British accent
Themes
behavior
|communication
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He affected ignorance of the whole matter.
- She affected a cheerful manner despite her worries.
- They affected a casual attitude toward the news.
Learner examples
- He affected a smile, but he was sad.
- She affected surprise when she heard the news.
- They affected interest in the game.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
an observable expression of emotion (psychology)
In psychology, how a person shows their feelings by face, voice, or actions.
Synonyms
emotional expression (More general term; not limited to psychology context.)
Antonyms
emotional suppression (The act of hiding or holding back one's emotions.)
Collocations
blunted affect
|flat affect
|restricted affect
Themes
psychology
|health
|emotions
|science
Examples
- The patient displayed a flat affect during the interview.
- Blunted affect can be a symptom of depression.
- Her affect was bright and engaging.
Learner examples
- The man had a flat affect.
- His affect was happy today.
- The doctor saw her affect was sad.
Grammar
Dictionary form
affect
IPA
GB/ˈæfɛkt/
US/ˈæfɛkt/
Syllables & stress
af - fect (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (af)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: affect
- Plural: affect, affects
Verb
- Base: affect
- 3rd Person Singular: affects
- Present Participle: affecting
- Past: affected
Word family
Forms
affects
noun
affecting
verb
affected
verb
Core family
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
ineffective
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
affective
adjective
affectation
noun C1
Expressions
affect change
1/əfˈɛkt t͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
formal
to cause change to happen
To make something change or to help change happen.
Examples
- Community efforts can affect change in local policies.
- She joined the group to help affect change in education.
affect the outcome
1/əfˈɛkt ðə ˈaʊtkˌʌm/
fixed phrase
to influence the final result
To make a difference in how something ends or turns out.
Examples
- Weather conditions may affect the outcome of the match.
- His decision could greatly affect the outcome of the negotiations.