Meaning & use
the butterfly effect
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Meanings
nounsingularfigurative
The idea that a very small change at the start of a process can lead to huge and unpredictable results later.
Grammar: Usually with the: the butterfly effect.
Patterns
- the butterfly effect of something
- an example of the butterfly effect
Missing one bus started a chain of events that changed her career, a real butterfly effect.
Scientists use the butterfly effect to explain why weather is hard to predict.
The film shows the butterfly effect, where one small choice alters the future.
nounsingulartechnical
In chaos theory, sensitivity to the starting conditions of a system, so tiny differences grow over time.
Grammar: Technical, often with chaos theory.
Patterns
- the butterfly effect in a system
Weather models show the butterfly effect because tiny errors grow quickly.
The butterfly effect makes long-range forecasting uncertain.
Mathematicians describe the butterfly effect in nonlinear systems.
Common combinations
- the butterfly effect in action
- That small mistake was the butterfly effect in action.
- cause a butterfly effect
- One tweet can cause a butterfly effect.
- the butterfly effect of
- The butterfly effect of that decision lasted for years.
- believe in the butterfly effect
- I believe in the butterfly effect after what happened.
- demonstrate the butterfly effect
- The model demonstrates the butterfly effect.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ripple effect
- Ripple effect describes consequences spreading outward from one event, but not necessarily from a tiny cause.
- chain reaction
- A chain reaction describes events that trigger one another in order.
- domino effect
- Domino effect suggests one event causing a series of similar ones.
- snowball effect
- Snowball effect describes something growing bigger and faster.
Word family
Commonly confused: the butterfly effect or ripple effect?
the butterfly effect vs ripple effect
Ripple effect is about outward spread; butterfly effect is about small causes leading to large, unpredictable results.
Practice
A single missed alarm changed her whole year. It was a classic ___.
Choose one answer.
The butterfly effect is a tiny event leading to big results. Side effect usually refers to an unintended result of medicine or action.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the butterfly effect”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.