influence
Americannoun
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influences
plural
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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.
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the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others.
Her mother's influence made her stay.
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a person or thing that exerts influence.
He is an influence for the good.
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Astrology.
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the radiation of an ethereal fluid from the stars, regarded as affecting human actions and destinies.
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the exercise of occult power by the stars, or such power as exercised.
-
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the exercise of similar power by human beings.
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Obsolete. influx.
verb (used with object)
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influences,
present (3rd person singular)
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influenced,
past participle, past
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influencing
present participle
idioms
noun
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an effect of one person or thing on another
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the power of a person or thing to have such an effect
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power or sway resulting from ability, wealth, position, etc
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a person or thing having influence
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astrology an ethereal fluid or occult power regarded as emanating from the stars and affecting a person's actions, future, etc
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informal drunk
verb
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to persuade or induce
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to have an effect upon (actions, events, etc); affect
Usage
What are other ways to say influence? Influence is the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions of another or others. How does influence compare to control and authority? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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counterinfluencenoun
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influencernoun
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noninfluencenoun
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preinfluencenoun
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superinfluencenoun
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interinfluenceverb
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outinfluenceverb (used with object)
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overinfluenceverb (used with object)
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reinfluenceverb (used with object)
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influenceableadjective
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uninfluencedadjective
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uninfluencingadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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influencesimple
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influencessimple
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have influencedperfect
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has influencedperfect
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am influencingprogressive
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are influencingprogressive
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is influencingprogressive
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have been influencingperfect progressive
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has been influencingperfect progressive
Past
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influencedsimple
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had influencedperfect
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was influencingprogressive
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were influencingprogressive
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had been influencingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of influence
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Medieval Latin influentia “stellar emanation,” equivalent to Latin influent- ( see influent) + -ia -y 3; see -ence
Explanation
Influence is the power to have an important effect on someone or something. If someone influences someone else, they are changing a person or thing in an indirect but important way. Sometimes a person who influences another doesn't intend to have any effect, but sometimes they are using influence to benefit themselves. An example of a personal benefit or advantage would be the use of political influence. Influence is also a verb, from Latin influere to flow in.
Vocabulary lists containing influence
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The findings, published in Cell, uncover a previously unknown way the gut microbiota may influence important functions throughout the body.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
“I’m not gonna say that ‘Wednesday,’ you know, saved the day, but, it is very interesting how certain things in pop culture kind of influence the interest level.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
Nvidia’s coming earnings report and outlook on semiconductor demand are expected to heavily influence the tech sector and the broader stock market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
Instead, they detect its effects through the gravitational influence it exerts on stars, galaxies, and other visible objects.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
Yet, their gathering—a group assembled around a table, an opening prayer or song, questions for the dead, and answering spirits—would have influence far beyond nineteenth-century Rochester.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
However, they cautioned that other influences on brain health, including lifestyle and social engagement, could also contribute to the differences they observed.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026
The Journal previously ran a Personal Board of Directors series asking prominent business leaders like Oscar Munoz and Carla Harris about mentors who remained influences throughout their careers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Understanding how natural emissions influences clouds is critical for predicting climate changes in this region.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
While MasterChef Italia is deeply rooted in the country's own food traditions, he said the British version featured a much broader mix, including Indian, Japanese and Mexican influences.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
Whoever had thoroughly grasped it would be safe from human influences.
From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell
By analyzing the stream's shape, researchers reconstructed the gravitational field of its host galaxy and used that information to determine how unseen dark matter influenced the stars' paths.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
A New Englander deeply influenced by his reading of the Transcendentalists, Ives went into the insurance business while continuing to compose music, though his compositions weren’t widely performed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
“The other, influenced by the detective’s statement about an arrest, also identified Guy.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
UK energy prices are heavily influenced by international markets, leaving gas prices exposed to external shocks even if domestic production increases.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
Naturally, the notion that environmental geography and biogeography influenced societal development is an old idea.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Skilled professionals turned creators often don’t aspire to switch to full-time influencing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may already be influencing human biology.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026
Energy markets and oil prices also play an important role in influencing the COLA.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
And what began as a way to understand relationships is increasingly influencing how people navigate them.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Perhaps Gaia was whispering in Octavian’s ear, influencing his decisions subconsciously.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
