Meaning & use
affects
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“affects” is a form of “affect”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Has an influence on someone or something, causing it to change in some way.
Grammar: Always takes an object: the weather affects traffic.
Patterns
- something affects someone
- something affects something
Lack of sleep affects your memory.
The new tax directly affects small businesses.
This decision affects everyone in the building.
verbtransitive
Moves someone's feelings strongly, especially making them sad or sympathetic.
Grammar: Takes a person as the object, often in the passive: she was deeply affected by the news.
Patterns
- something affects someone deeply
The film affects viewers deeply and many leave in tears.
The story of the lost dog affects her every time.
His speech affects the whole room.
verbtransitiveformal
Pretends to have a quality or feeling, especially to impress others.
Grammar: Takes an object such as an accent or attitude: he affects boredom.
Patterns
- affect an accent
- affect indifference
He affects a British accent whenever he meets tourists.
She affects an air of calm, though she is nervous.
The singer affects a tired, careless style.
noununcountabletechnical
The outward display of feeling, such as facial expression, as observed by others.
Grammar: In psychology, 'affect' (singular) is the noun; 'affects' is used with plural meaning, rarely.
Patterns
- flat affect
Doctors noted the patient's flat affect during the interview.
Different cultures show positive affects in different ways.
Therapists assess affect by watching a person's expression and tone.
Word forms
| base form | affect |
|---|---|
| third person singular | affects |
| past tense | affected |
| past participle | affected |
| -ing form | affecting |
Common combinations
- directly affects
- Rising prices directly affects families on low incomes.
- adversely affects
- Noise adversely affects concentration.
- affects everyone
- The rule affects everyone who works here.
- affects your health
- Stress affects your health in many ways.
- how it affects
- We need to know how it affects the budget.
Synonyms and how they differ
- influences
- Often suggests a gradual effect on opinions or behavior, whereas affects can be sudden and physical.
- impacts
- More forceful, implying a strong and noticeable effect, and is common in business writing.
- touches
- Fits emotional effects best and is warmer and softer than affects.
- alters
- Means changes something directly, while affects only says there is an influence.
Opposites
Word family
- affect verb
- base form, to influence
- affected adjective
- influenced, or artificially behaving
- affecting adjective
- emotionally moving
- affection noun
- a feeling of fondness
- affectation noun
- artificial behavior to impress
Commonly confused: affects or effects? affects or effects (verb)?
affects vs effects
'Effects' is a noun meaning results; 'affects' is a verb meaning influences. Remember: the Action word starts with A.
affects vs effects (verb)
The rare verb 'to effect' means to bring about, as in effect a change, and is not the same as to affect.
Practice
Choose the correct word: 'The new schedule ___ every employee in the department.'
Choose one answer.
A verb is needed with a singular subject, so 'affects' (to influence). 'Effects' is a noun, and 'affect' lacks the -s.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “affects”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.