Definition

1. Verb:

   • To have an effect on; to influence: To produce a change in something or someone.
   • To touch the emotions of; to move emotionally: To cause a feeling of sadness, sympathy, etc.
   • To pretend to have or feel; to put on a false show of: To behave in a way that is not genuine.
   • (Formal) To attack or infect, as a disease: To produce illness in a person or organism.

2. Noun:

   • (Psychology) Emotion or desire, especially as influencing behavior or thought: The conscious subjective aspect of feeling.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to influence):
  • The new tax law will affect all businesses.
  • Lack of sleep can affect your ability to concentrate.
• Verb (to move emotionally):
  • The tragic story deeply affected everyone who heard it.
  • He was visibly affected by the news of his friend's passing.
• Verb (to pretend):
  • She affected an air of sophistication she didn't feel.
  • He affected a British accent to seem more cultured.
• Noun (psychology):
  • The patient displayed a flat affect, showing little emotional response.

Advanced Usage

• "Affect" vs. "Effect": A common point of confusion. Remember: "Affect" is usually a verb (to influence), while "Effect" is usually a noun (a result). For example:
• "Affected" (adjective): Behaving or speaking in an artificial or pretentious way to impress others.
  • His affected manner of speaking made him difficult to like.

Variants and Related Words

• Affecting (adjective): Moving the emotions; touching.
  • It was an affecting scene of reunion at the airport.
• Affection (noun): A gentle feeling of fondness or liking. (Note: This is a distinct word, not a direct variant of the verb 'affect').
• Affective (adjective): Relating to moods, feelings, and attitudes.
  • The disorder has both cognitive and affective symptoms.

Synonyms

• Influence (verb): To have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of.
• Impact (verb): To have a strong effect on someone or something.
• Feign (verb): To pretend to be affected by.
• Simulate (verb): To imitate the appearance or character of.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Affect to: To pretend or make a show of. (This is a formal or literary construction).
  • He affected to be uninterested in the gossip.

Related Idioms

• Put on an affect: To adopt a false manner or display. (This is a less common phrase, directly using the noun form).
  • Her cheerful demeanor was just a put-on affect to hide her sadness.

Noun

1. the conscious subjective aspect of feeling or emotion

Verb

1. have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
   • This child impressed me as unusually mature
   • This behavior struck me as odd
2. make believe with the intent to deceive
   • He feigned that he was ill
   • He shammed a headache
3. connect closely and often incriminatingly
   • This new ruling affects your business
4. act physically on; have an effect upon
   • the medicine affects my heart rate
5. have an effect upon
   • Will the new rules affect me?