Meaning & use
take effect
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiom
To become active and start to apply, as a law, rule, or agreement does from a certain date.
Grammar: Fixed verb phrase; the subject is the thing that starts, often with on or from a date.
Patterns
- something takes effect
- take effect on a date
- take effect immediately
The new tax rules take effect on January 1.
The ban took effect immediately.
The contract takes effect once both sides sign.
phraseidiom
To begin to produce the intended result, as a medicine or treatment does.
Grammar: Often used with medicine, plus a time: it takes effect within an hour.
Patterns
- something takes effect within a time
- wait for something to take effect
The painkiller should take effect within half an hour.
Give the fertilizer time to take effect.
The anesthetic took effect quickly.
Word forms
| third person singular | takes effect |
|---|---|
| past tense | took effect |
| past participle | taken effect |
| -ing form | taking effect |
Common combinations
- take effect immediately
- The rule takes effect immediately.
- take effect on
- The law takes effect on May 1.
- begin to take effect
- The medicine began to take effect.
- take effect from
- The pay rise takes effect from March.
- before it takes effect
- Read the terms before it takes effect.
Synonyms and how they differ
- come into force
- Come into force is used almost only for laws and rules, while take effect also fits medicine.
- kick in
- Kick in is informal and often used for drugs, heating, or a feeling starting.
- start working
- Start working is plain and general, but take effect sounds more official.
- become valid
- Become valid focuses on legal status, while take effect focuses on starting to operate.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: take effect or take affect?
take effect vs take affect
Take affect is a common mistake. Effect is the noun here, and affect is usually a verb.
Practice
Which spelling of the phrase is correct?
Choose one answer.
The noun is effect, and after will the base verb take is needed. Affect is a different word, and taking and took are wrong forms.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “take effect”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.