influence

[ in-floo-uhns ]

noun

1. the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others:

   He used family influence to get the contract.

2. the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others:

   Her mother's influence made her stay.

   Synonyms: guidance, pressure, sway, effect

3. a person or thing that exerts influence:

   He is an influence for the good.

4. Astrology.
   1. the radiation of an ethereal fluid from the stars, regarded as affecting human actions and destinies.
   2. the exercise of occult power by the stars, or such power as exercised.
5. the exercise of similar power by human beings.
6. Obsolete. influx.

verb (used with object)

, in·flu·enced, in·flu·enc·ing.

1. to exercise influence on; affect; sway:

   to influence a person.

   Synonyms: move, impress, control, direct, bias

2. to move or impel (a person) to some action:

   Outside factors influenced her to resign.

   Synonyms: persuade, induce, arouse, rouse, incite, instigate

influence

/ ˈɪnflʊəns /

noun

1. an effect of one person or thing on another
2. the power of a person or thing to have such an effect
3. power or sway resulting from ability, wealth, position, etc
4. a person or thing having influence
5. astrology an ethereal fluid or occult power regarded as emanating from the stars and affecting a person's actions, future, etc
6. under the influence informal.
   drunk

verb

1. to persuade or induce
2. to have an effect upon (actions, events, etc); affect

Derived Forms

• ˈinfluenceable, adjective
• ˈinfluencer, noun

Other Words From

• in·flu·ence·a·ble adjective
• in·flu·enc·er noun
• coun·ter·in·flu·ence noun verb (used with object) counterinfluenced counterinfluencing
• in·ter·in·flu·ence verb interinfluenced interinfluencing
• non·in·flu·ence noun
• out·in·flu·ence verb (used with object) outinfluenced outinfluencing
• o·ver·in·flu·ence verb (used with object) overinfluenced overinfluencing
• pre·in·flu·ence noun
• re·in·flu·ence verb (used with object) reinfluenced reinfluencing
• su·per·in·flu·ence noun verb (used with object) superinfluenced superinfluencing
• un·in·flu·enced adjective
• un·in·flu·enc·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of influence¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Medieval Latin influentia “stellar emanation,” equivalent to Latin influent- ( influent ) + -ia -y ³; -ence

Word History and Origins

Origin of influence¹

C14: from Medieval Latin influentia emanation of power from the stars, from Latin influere to flow into, from fluere to flow

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. under the influence, Law. less than drunk but with one's nervous system impaired: Also under the influence of intoxicating liquor.

   He was driving while under the influence.

More idioms and phrases containing influence

see under the influence .

Example Sentences

On Saturday, the legal team publicly circulated a 52-page “white paper” arguing that President-elect Trump and his allies turned Hunter into a “political tool” and how his prosecutions were sought to influence the 2020, 2022 and 2024 elections.

From Los Angeles Times

He has also seen a dive in his popularity with voters; having been mired in several political influence and corruption scandals - including one involving the First Lady accepting a Dior bag, and another around stock manipulation.

From BBC

Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska hired him to run his influence operation in Ukraine, which included lobbying for an accused murderer seeking investment opportunities for his corrupt company, as well as running the political campaign of Viktor Yanukovych, the corrupt Ukrainian politician who would be elected president and then ousted in a peaceful revolution.

From Salon

Lavrov would go on to have key involvement in Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine, the country whose president Trump had tried to blackmail, and to which his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, had multiple corrupt connections involving money, political influence, and Russian oligarchs close to Putin.

From Salon

Their reasoning was that TikTok alone operated under Chinese influence and could share US users’ data with the Chinese government.

From Salon

Related Words

• clout
• consequence
• control
• domination
• effect
• force
• impact
• importance
• leadership
• leverage
• money
• pressure
• prestige
• repercussion
• reputation
• significance
• weight