take effect

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take effect (third-person singular simple present takes effect, present participle taking effect, simple past took effect, past participle taken effect)

1. (informal, of a drug, etc.) To become active; to become effective.

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

2. (informal, of a law, etc.) To come into force, to come into effect, to inure.

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

• See take.

• (to become active): kick in

• “take effect” (US) / “take effect” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.
• “take effect” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.
• “take effect”, in Collins English Dictionary.