effective
It's an extremely effective cure for a headache.
someone or something that is effective works well and produces the result that was intended
He played his role most effectively.
او به طور چشمگيرى نقش خود را بازى كرد.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
effective
ef‧fec‧tive S2 W1 /ɪˈfektɪv/ adjective
[Word Family: noun: effect, effectiveness ≠ ineffectiveness; adjective: effective ≠ ineffective, effectual ≠ ineffectual; verb: effect; adverb: effectively ≠ ineffectively]
1. successful, and working in the way that was intended OPP ineffective:
• The cheaper drugs are just as effective in treating arthritis.
• the painting’s highly effective use of colour
• Training is often much less effective than expected.
• the most effective ways of reducing inner city congestion
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that something works (well), rather than say that it is effective:
▪ • The cheaper drugs work just as well.
2. [no comparative, not before noun] if a law, agreement, or system becomes effective, it officially starts
effective from
• The cut in interest rates is effective from Monday.
3. [no comparative, only before noun] real rather than what is officially intended or generally believed:
• The rebels are in effective control of the city.
—effectiveness noun [uncountable]
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ extremely/highly effective • The company launched a highly effective advertising campaign.
■ nouns
▪ an effective way • What’s the most effective way to control crime?
▪ an effective method • Exams are not the most effective method of assessing students’ abilities.
▪ an effective means • Is reducing the speed limit an effective means of reducing accidents?
▪ effective action • The police must take effective action to protect the public.
▪ an effective solution • The most effective solution to traffic congestion is to build more roads.
▪ an effective treatment • Antibiotics are still the most effective treatment for this disease.
▪ an effective system • The country has a simple but effective welfare system.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ successful achieving what you wanted, or having the effect or result you intended: • He applied for a visa three times and in the end he was successful. | • The treatment was successful. | • It was a highly successful campaign.
▪ effective having the effect or result that was wanted - used especially about treatments, drugs, or methods: • The drug is effective against a range of diseases. | • We still haven't found an effective way to solve the problem.
▪ victorious successful as a result of winning in a game, election, war etc: • the captain of the victorious team | • She emerged victorious in the second round of voting.
▪ promising likely to be very successful in the future, used especially about someone who is good at a job, sport, art etc: • a promising young athlete | • He gave up a promising career in banking.
▪ thriving very successful – used about a company, industry, or organization that is doing well at a particular time: • The area has a thriving tourist industry. | • The school is thriving academically.
▪ booming extremely successful – used about an economy, or when business or trade is increasing: • the booming economy in China | • Business is booming.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
effective
ef·fect·ive [ɪˈfektɪv] [ɪˈfektɪv] adjective
1. producing the result that is wanted or intended; producing a successful result
• Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders.
• Aspirin is a simple but highly effective treatment.
• drugs that are effective against cancer
• Some people believe that violence is an effective way of protesting.
• I admire the effective use of colour in her paintings.
Opp: ineffective
see also cost-effective
2. only before noun in reality, although not officially intended
• the effective, if not the actual, leader of the party
• In spite of what they are told, parents have no effective choice of schools.
• He has now taken effective control of the country.
3. (formal) (of laws and rules) coming into use
• The new speed limit on this road becomes effective from 1 June.
Derived Word: effectiveness
See also: effectivity
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin effectivus, from efficere ‘accomplish’, from ex- ‘out, thoroughly’ + facere ‘do, make’.
Thesaurus:
effective [effective effectiveness] adj.
• a simple but highly effective treatment
successful • • powerful •
Opp: ineffective
effective/successful/powerful in sth
effective/successful/powerful in doing sth
an effective/successful/powerful campaign/challenge
Example Bank:
• The drug is generally effective in reducing pain.
• This method is effective enough with greenfly.
• We find advertising on the radio very effective.
• What makes a TV programme politically effective?
• a highly effective technique
• directly effective treaty provisions
• effective at keeping out the wind
• effective in helping people to stop smoking
• He argued that long prison sentences could be a very effective deterrent for offenders.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
effect
effect (USE) /ɪˈfekt/
noun [U]
use:
The present system of payment will remain in effect (= be used) until the end of the rental agreement.
When do the new driving laws come into effect?
The new salary increases will take effect (= begin) from January onwards.
effective /ɪˈfek.tɪv/
adjective
The new laws will become effective next month.
See also effective at effect (RESULT).
x
effect (RESULT) /ɪˈfekt/
noun [C or U]
1 the result of a particular influence:
The radiation leak has had a disastrous effect on/upon the environment.
I tried taking tablets for the headache but they didn't have any effect.
I think I'm suffering from the effects of too little sleep.
She has a lot of confidence which she uses to good effect (= to her advantage) in interviews.
See also after effects.
2 take effect to produce or achieve the results you want:
They had to wait ten minutes for the anaesthetic to take effect before they stitched up the cut.
3 MAINLY DISAPPROVING for effect If you say or do something for effect, you intentionally do it to shock people or attract their attention:
I get the impression that she uses bad language in meetings for effect.
4 in effect in fact, or in practice:
So in effect the government have lowered taxes for the rich and raised them for the poor.
See also effect (USE). effective /ɪˈfek.tɪv/
adjective
1 successful or achieving the results that you want:
It's an extremely effective cure for a headache.
The lighting for the production made a very effective use of shadow.
She's a very effective teacher.
NOTE: The opposite is ineffective.
2 [before noun] in fact, although not officially:
Although she's not officially our boss, she's in effective control of the office.
See also effective at effect (USE).
effectively /ɪˈfek.tɪv.li/
adverb
1 in a way that is successful and achieves what you want:
The tablets work more effectively if you take a hot drink after them.
2 used when you describe what the real result of a situation is:
His wife left him when the children were small, so he effectively brought up the family himself.
Effectively, we have to start again from scratch.
effectiveness /ɪˈfek.tɪv.nəs/
noun [U]
There are doubts about the effectiveness of the new drug (= how successful it is) in treating the disease.
effectual /ɪˈfek.tju.əl/
adjective FORMAL
effective and successful:
They wish to promote a real and effectual understanding between the two countries.
effectually /ɪˈfek.tju.əl.i/
adverb FORMAL
