easy
A late bedtime can affect your focus the next day.
What does Affect mean?
Affect usually means to influence or change someone or something.
Dictionary definition
Usually a verb meaning to influence, change, or move someone emotionally; it can also mean to pretend, while the technical noun affect means an observed or experienced emotion.
Example sentences
Affect in a sentence
medium
The documentary deeply affected everyone in the room.
hard
In the play, Mira affected a grand accent to make her friends laugh.
hard
The psychologist recorded changes in the patient’s affect during the interview.
Writing practice
Ready to write your own? Study the examples, then practice affect in a sentence with Sentence Builder checklist feedback.
Commonly confused words
Affect or effect?
Compare the meanings, then choose a word for each new sentence.
Affect
Affect usually means to influence or change someone or something.
In a sentence A late bedtime can affect your focus the next day.
Effect
Effect usually means a result or change caused by something else.
In a sentence One effect of regular practice was faster reading.
Spot the difference Affect is usually a verb and effect is usually a noun. The less common noun affect is a psychology term pronounced AF-ekt, and the formal verb affect can mean pretend.
Which word fits?
Choose affect or effect for each blank. Say your answer, then check why it fits.
1Moving the lamp can ___ how clearly we see the drawing.
Check answer 1
affect — Affect is the verb here: moving the lamp can change how clearly we see.
2One ___ of moving the lamp was a brighter drawing.
Check answer 2
effect — Effect is a noun here: the brighter drawing is a result of moving the lamp.
Make it your ownTry the word in a sentence about your day.
Write a sentence with affectQuick practice
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Practice the meaning of Affect
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does affect mean in “Shade can affect soil temperature”?
Shade influences the soil’s temperature, so affect is the verb.
Practice 2
Choose the word that completes the sentence: “How will the schedule change ___ our practice time?”
The sentence needs a verb meaning influence. Effect is usually the noun for the result.
Practice 3
Which sentence uses the specialized noun affect?
In psychology, the noun affect refers to emotion or its observable expression and is pronounced AF-ekt.
Practice complete
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You completed 3 questions.
Pronunciation coach
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Affect
Voice settings
Sounds like
uh · fekt · strongest beat: fekt
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordAffect.
Partverb, noun.
MeaningAffect means Affect usually means to influence or change someone or something.
ExampleExample: A late bedtime can affect your focus the next day.
Word breakdown
2 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- uh · fekt
- Strongest beat
- fekt
- Ending
- fekt
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on fekt.
Your turn
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Synonyms
Words like Affect
Antonym review
Does Affect have an opposite?
Affect has influence, emotional, pretence, and technical psychology senses, so no single word directly opposes all of them; leave unchanged may contrast with the main verb sense in a sentence.
Synonym practice
Want to practice affect synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "Kind words can affect a friend's mood," then compare close word choices. Practice affect synonyms.
Word family
Affect word family
Base word
affect
adjective
affected
Changed, influenced, or emotionally moved by something.
adjective
affecting
Causing a strong emotional response.
adjective
affective
Related to feelings, moods, or emotions, especially in psychology.
Related words
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Student support
Understand Affect
Hint for students
If you need an action meaning influence or change, affect is usually the right choice.
Common mix-up
Affect is usually a verb and effect is usually a noun. The less common noun affect is a psychology term pronounced AF-ekt, and the formal verb affect can mean pretend.
Try it in class or at home
Students sort science and everyday sentences into influence, emotional response, pretence, and psychology-noun senses, then replace the main verb sense with influence to test it.
Teacher prompt
Compare “Noise affects concentration” with “Noise has an effect on concentration.” Ask students to identify the action word and the result word.
Word Wheels
Practice Affect with a Word Wheel
Explore 2 wheels that include this word.
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Word category
Explore more feelings words
This word is part of WordHive's feelings words collection. Browse more emotion words, compare close meanings, and practice using them in sentences.
Word Wheel
Practice with the School Words Wheel
This word is part of WordHive's researched School Words collection. Spin the complete wheel to review meanings, discuss classroom connections, and practice using school vocabulary in sentences.
Learning activities
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