impact

[ noun im-pakt; verb im-pakt ]

/ noun ˈɪm pækt; verb ɪmˈpækt /

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See synonyms for: impact / impacted / impacting / impacts on Thesaurus.com

noun

the striking of one thing against another; forceful contact; collision: The impact of the colliding cars broke the windshield.

an impinging: the impact of light on the eye.

influence; effect: the impact of Einstein on modern physics.

an impacting; forcible impinging: the tremendous impact of the shot.

the force exerted by a new idea, concept, technology, or ideology: the impact of the industrial revolution.

verb (used with object)

to drive or press closely or firmly into something; pack in.

to fill up; congest; throng: A vast crowd impacted St. Peter's Square.

to collide with; strike forcefully: a rocket designed to impact the planet Mars.

to have an impact or effect on; influence; alter: The decision may impact your whole career. The auto industry will be impacted by the new labor agreements.

verb (used without object)

to have impact or make contact forcefully: The ball impacted against the bat with a loud noise.

to have an impact or effect: Increased demand will impact on sales.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of impact

First recorded in 1775–85; (noun and v.) back formation from impacted

usage note for impact

The verb impact has developed the transitive sense “to have an impact or effect on” ( The structured reading program has done more to impact the elementary schools than any other single factor ) and the intransitive sense “to have an impact or effect” ( The work done at the computer center will impact on the economy of Illinois and the nation ). Although recent, the new uses are entirely standard and most likely to occur in formal speech and writing. See also impactful.

OTHER WORDS FROM impact

non·im·pact, noun, adjectivepost·im·pact, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use impact in a sentence

The last thing to think about is the environmental impact of actually using the product.
Trying to shop sustainably? Here’s what you need to consider.|Sarah Kaplan|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The findings are part of a 2019 National Geographic expedition that studied climate impacts on the Himalayas.
Everest Summits May Become Easier Due to Climate Change|Kyla Mandel|November 20, 2020|Outside Online
One way to understand the impact of this loss is to compare it with the number of people who live in your town, city or county.
How much is 250,000 deaths? Enough to empty wide swaths of the country.|Lauren Tierney, Tim Meko|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Without the impact of the coronavirus, greenhouse gas emissions this year would have been only 1 percent lower than 2019, the organization says.
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions set to drop to lowest level in three decades|Steven Mufson|November 19, 2020|Washington Post

Like most big men who enter the NBA as teenagers, Wiseman will probably struggle to be an impact player in the 2021 playoffs.
On quiet night for NBA draft lottery selections, Anthony Edwards goes No. 1 to Timberwolves|Ben Golliver, Des Bieler|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
In the gloom the flash of missiles impacting in the distance heartened them.
America’s WTF Air War in Syria|Jamie Dettmer|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now some are saying it is already negatively impacting consumer behavior.
Walmart’s Dumb Blame Game|Daniel Gross|November 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
This is the goal of our conversation today, how corporate innovation is actually impacting social innovation.
Stanford Panel: Transforming Lives – Just Business as Usual|A Daily Beast Sponsor|October 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The MiniChess program builds a foundation for future learning, especially impacting math and life-skills development.
See Who’s Coming to Women in the World 2013: Speakers & Participants||March 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Do the American people believe population growth is impacting the disappearance of wildlife?
New Poll Finds Americans Are Worried About Runaway Population Growth|Jerry Karnas|February 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The direct, proximate, or necessary function of the hammer in normal operation is impacting.
The Classification of Patents|United States Patent Office
The evolution or revolution of information technology is impacting everything we do and how we do it on a worldwide basis.
Shock and Awe|Harlan K. Ullman
The result seen in Fig. 303 is obtained by impacting the horizontal or twined series of threads.
A Study Of The Textile Art In Its Relation To The Development Of Form And Ornament|William H. Holmes
He spread his feet, braced his shoulders and chest to the impacting masses of words, and waited.
The Wolf Cub|Patrick Casey
They do not coat the infantile matter with a hard or impacting envelope.
Instigations|Ezra Pound

British Dictionary definitions for impact

impact

noun (ˈɪmpækt)

the act of one body, object, etc, striking another; collision

the force with which one thing hits another or with which two objects collide

the impression made by an idea, cultural movement, social group, etcthe impact of the Renaissance on Medieval Europe

verb (ɪmˈpækt)

to drive or press (an object) firmly into (another object, thing, etc) or (of two objects) to be driven or pressed firmly together

to have an impact or strong effect (on)

Derived forms of impact

impaction, noun

Word Origin for impact

C18: from Latin impactus pushed against, fastened on, from impingere to thrust at, from pangere to drive in

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

impact

Origin of impact

usage note for impact

OTHER WORDS FROM impact

Words related to impact

How to use impact in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for impact

Derived forms of impact

Word Origin for impact