Phrase guide

take effect

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Mid-Atlantic, US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To become active; to become effective.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, usually

Examples

  • The medication won't begin to take effect for 3-4 hours.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To come into force, to come into effect, to inure.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, usually

Examples

  • The new regulations will take effect once they are approved by the Office of Administrative Law.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

go into effect or become effective or operative

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The new law will take effect next month

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: become, go, get

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: подействам (podejstvam) — to become active; to become effective
  • Bulgarian: влизам в сила (vlizam v sila) — to become active; to become effective
  • Chinese Mandarin: 生效 (shēngxiào) — to become active; to become effective
  • Finnish: alkaa vaikuttaa — to become active; to become effective
  • French: faire effet — to become active; to become effective
  • French: agir — to become active; to become effective
  • German: wirken — to become active; to become effective
  • German: wirksam werden — to become active; to become effective
  • Hungarian: hat — to become active; to become effective
  • Icelandic: hrífa — to become active; to become effective
  • Russian: де́йствовать (déjstvovatʹ) — to become active; to become effective
  • Russian: поде́йствовать (podéjstvovatʹ) — to become active; to become effective
  • Spanish: surtir efecto — to become active; to become effective
  • Spanish: hacer efecto — to become active; to become effective