b : to cause illness, symptoms, etc., in (someone or something) a disease that affects millions of patients each year

affect somebody/something to produce a change in somebody/something. How will these changes affect us? The article deals with issues affecting the lives of children. Thousands of …

Is there some concept, identifiable as 'perception', which affects or controls a human being's knowledge of the surrounding landscape?

If something affects a person or thing, it influences them or causes them to change in some way. Nicotine adversely affects the functioning of the heart and arteries. More than seven million …

What's the difference between affect and effect? Affect is most commonly used as a verb meaning to act on or produce a change in someone or something.

Dec 23, 2025 · Affect and effect are sometimes confused. Affect conveys influence over something that already exists, but effect indicates the manifestation of new or original ideas or …

Affect and effect are two of the most commonly confused words in English. They sound and look similar, and even relate in meaning — but they have different grammar functions and are used …

affect is a verb, affected and affectionate are adjectives, affection is a noun: Nothing seems to affect him. The way he speaks is affected and phony. The cat is friendly and affectionate. She …

Affect is most often used as a verb meaning “to have an impact on,” as in “The tornado barreling towards us will affect our picnic plans.”

Affect and effect are two of the most commonly confused words in English, but don’t worry—we’ll help you keep them straight. The basic difference is this: affect is usually a verb, and effect is …