effectively

ef·fec·tive·ly
E1F4F4E1C3T1I1V4E1L1Y4
/ɪˈfɛktɪvli/

adverb

In an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect.

“On paper, the answer seems to be yes, but, effectively, the answer is no.”

CommonScrabble 25

Meanings

adverbeffectively (comparative more effectively, superlative most effectively)

comparative more effectively · superlative most effectively

  1. In an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect.

    The nightclubs generally provide liquor (at a price), pretty girls who are clad diaphanously but extremely effectively, a tiny space in which to dance [...] and food[.]

    1946, George Johnston, Skyscrapers in the Mist, page 89
    1 more example

    A state ideology, mixing nationalism, and basic Marxist economics, going under the name "Juche", was constructed, and Kim Il-sung effectively silenced, disposed of and cleared away any opposition, isolating the country and exercising an iron grip on the military, the state media and the government and party organs.

    2011 December 19, Kerry Brown, “Kim Jong-il obituary”, in The Guardian
  2. Essentially, in effect, for all practical purposes.

    On paper, the answer seems to be yes, but, effectively, the answer is no.

    1 more example

    A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place.

    2012 March 28, Henry Petroski, “Opening Doors”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, pages 112–3

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbin an effective manner

adverbin actuality or reality or fact

Similar

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éǵʰ
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éǵʰs
  3. Proto-Italic*eks
  4. Latinex
  5. Latinex-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁k-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*dʰh₁kyéti
  9. Proto-Italic*θakjō
  10. Proto-Italic*fakjō
  11. Latinfaciō
  12. Latinefficiō
  13. Latineffectīvu
  14. Frencheffectif
  15. Englisheffective
  16. Englisheffectively

From effective + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech efektivně
  • efektivněin an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
Dutch daadwerkelijk
  • daadwerkelijkessentially
Finnish tehokkaasti, vaikuttavasti
  • tehokkaastiin an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
  • vaikuttavastiin an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
French efficacement
  • efficacementin an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
German effektiv, wirksam
  • effektivin an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
  • wirksamin an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
  • tatsächlichessentially
Hungarian hatékonyan, hathatósan
  • hatékonyanin an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
  • hathatósanin an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
  • eredményesenin an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
  • ténylegessentially
  • ténylegesenessentially
  • valóbanessentially
Italian efficacemente
  • efficacementein an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
Latin potenter
  • potenterin an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
Portuguese efetivamente, eficazmente
  • efetivamentein an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
  • eficazmentein an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
  • efetivamenteessentially
Russian эффекти́вно
  • эффекти́вно (effektívno)in an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
Spanish efectivamente
  • efectivamentein an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
Swedish effektivt, i själva verket
  • effektivtin an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
  • i själva verketessentially
Yiddish עפֿעקטיוו
  • עפֿעקטיוו (efektiv)in an efficient or effective manner; with powerful effect
Cite this entry
APA

effectively. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/effectively

MLA

“effectively.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/effectively. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “effectively,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/effectively.

Source: effectively on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.