affect

Sayuh-FEKT/əˈfɛkt/

As a nounAF-ekt

Formsaffects, affecting, affected

Often confused with effect

13 meanings of affect

Practice

1
have an impactverbtransitive
To have an effect on something and change it in some way.
Like a stone dropped in a pond changing the water around it.
Loud noise can affect your sleep.
The new rules affected every student in the school.
Similarchange, influence, alter
Note
2
illness (body part)verbtransitive
To harm or hurt a part of the body, as an illness does.
Like rust slowly eating away at one part of a metal gate.
The disease can affect the lungs and make breathing hard.
Arthritis affected both of her knees.
Similarharm, infect, attack
Note
3
move emotionallyverbtransitive
To touch someone's feelings in a strong way.
Like a song that makes you cry.
The sad film really affected her.
His kind words affect everyone who hears them.
Similarmove, touch
Note

Less common meanings

4
pretendverbtransitive
To pretend to have a feeling or quality that you do not really have.
Like wearing a mask that hides how you really feel.
Some people affect interest just to seem polite.
He affected a calm voice, though he was terrified.
Similarfake, feign, simulate
Note
5
emotion (psychology)noununcountable
A feeling or mood, especially one you can see in a person's face or body.
Like the look on someone's face that shows if they feel happy or sad.
The doctor noticed a flat affect in her patient.
His affect changed the moment he heard the good news.
Similardemeanor, mood
Note
6
verbarchaictransitive
To make someone lean toward a feeling, habit, or choice.
men whom they thought best affected to religion and their country's liberty
1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs]Here, affected means inclined, or leaning toward caring about religion and liberty.
Note
7
verbraretransitive
In old use, to like or love someone or something, and to choose it.
As for Queen Katharine, he rather respected, then affected; rather honoured, then loved her.
1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of BritainHere, affected means liked or loved, set against simply respecting her.
There is a Lady in Verona heere Whom I affect: but she is nice, and coy, And naught esteemes my aged eloquence.
c. 1590, William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”Here, affect means love or feel fond of, so this is the lady he loves.
Note
8
verbarchaictransitive
To naturally lean toward something because of a natural pull or liking.
The drops of every fluid affect a round figure.
1704, I[saac] N[ewton], OpticksHere, affect means naturally tend toward, so drops tend to take a round shape.
Note
9
verbarchaictransitive
To give a person or thing a particular job, place, or use.
One of the domestics was affected to his special service.
1847, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity FairHere, affected means assigned, given the job of serving him.
Note
10
verbobsoletetransitive
To try hard to get or reach something.
For it is believed, that he never was married, affecting and embracing Chastity through the whole course of his Life.
1662, Jacques Olivier, A Discourse of WomenHere, affecting means aiming for and trying hard to keep.
Note
11
nounobsolete
A person's mood or general state of mind.
Note
12
nounobsolete
A strong wish or hunger for something.
Note
13
verb
To place a fixed charge or condition on land or property.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of affect apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–3, 6, 8–9

From Latin, from a verb meaning "to act upon or influence," built from parts meaning "to" and "to make or do."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Affect ultimately derives from Latin. en.wiktionary.org
The underlying Latin verb afficere means to act upon or influence. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin verb combines ad-, meaning to or towards, and facere, meaning to make or do. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 4, 7, 10

From Middle English, from French words meaning "to strive after" or "to pretend," from Latin affectāre ("to strive after, imitate, feign").

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

The sources are Anglo-Norman affecter (‘strive after’) and Middle French affecter (‘feign’). en.wiktionary.org
The ultimate source is Latin affectāre, meaning ‘to strive after, imitate, feign’. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 5, 11–12

From Middle English, from Latin affectus, meaning a state of mind or body caused by some outside influence, especially love or sympathy.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

The noun affect comes from Middle English, from Latin affectus. en.wiktionary.org
Latin affectus meant a state of mind or body caused by an outside influence, especially love or sympathy. en.wiktionary.org