influence

[ in-floo-uhns ]

/ ˈɪn flu əns /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR influence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others: Her mother's influence made her stay.

a person or thing that exerts influence: He is an influence for the good.

Astrology.

the radiation of an ethereal fluid from the stars, regarded as affecting human actions and destinies.
the exercise of occult power by the stars, or such power as exercised.

the exercise of similar power by human beings.

Obsolete. influx.

verb (used with object), in·flu·enced, in·flu·enc·ing.

to exercise influence on; affect; sway: to influence a person.

to move or impel (a person) to some action: Outside factors influenced her to resign.

Nearby words

inflexion, inflict, infliction, inflorescence, inflow, influence, influence peddler, influencer, influent, influential, influenza

Idioms

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

Origin of influence

1325–75; Middle English < Medieval Latin influentia stellar emanation, equivalent to Latin influent- (see influent) + -ia -y³; see -ence

SYNONYMS FOR influence

2 sway, rule.

7 impress, bias, direct, control.

8 incite, rouse, arouse, instigate, induce, persuade.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR influence ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

in·flu·ence·a·ble, adjectivein·flu·enc·er, nouncoun·ter·in·flu·ence, noun, verb (used with object), coun·ter·in·flu·enced, coun·ter·in·flu·enc·ing.in·ter·in·flu·ence, verb, in·ter·in·flu·enced, in·ter·in·flu·enc·ing.

non·in·flu·ence, nounout·in·flu·ence, verb (used with object), out·in·flu·enced, out·in·flu·enc·ing.o·ver·in·flu·ence, verb (used with object), o·ver·in·flu·enced, o·ver·in·flu·enc·ing.pre·in·flu·ence, nounre·in·flu·ence, verb (used with object), re·in·flu·enced, re·in·flu·enc·ing.su·per·in·flu·ence, noun, verb (used with object), su·per·in·flu·enced, su·per·in·flu·enc·ing.un·in·flu·enced, adjectiveun·in·flu·enc·ing, adjective

Can be confused

affluence effluence influence

Synonym study

2. See authority.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for influence

What sets him apart from so many of his contemporaries was his rare immunity from the influence of prevailing ideas.
The Catholic Philosopher Who Took on Hitler|John Henry Crosby|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"He brought Ray Charles to the mix as an influence on rock & roll," E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt once raved.
Joe Cocker's Deep Live Cuts|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These women interred the bodies of saints on their own properties and occasionally managed to influence papal politics.
First Anglican Woman Bishop A Return to Christian Roots|Candida Moss|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And if she just gets stuck there, her influence, however great among the Democratic base, will never grow outside of it.
The Most Powerful Democrat in America|Michael Tomasky|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Telltale can give the real Game of Thrones experience, but one that you can influence.
‘Game of Thrones’ Interactive FanFiction: Whoops, My Friend Was Speared in the Throat|Alec Kubas-Meyer|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Do you fancy he would get23 another call from her, or from her friends through her influence?
The Natural Cure of Consumption, Constipation, Bright's Disease, Neuralgia, Rheumatism,|Charles Edward Page
The influence of this work on the public mind was such as might have been anticipated.
The Martyrs of Science, or, The lives of Galileo, Tycho Brahe, and Kepler|David Brewster
The influence of his deep acquaintance with French is shown in the position of the adverb in "I saw again somebody in the porch."
Books and Persons|Arnold Bennett
Such mitigation of its influence as may be found is chiefly due to voluntary charitable agency.
The Criminal|Havelock Ellis
His influence also became more powerfully felt in the metropolis than before.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for influence

influence

/ (ˈɪnflʊəns) /

noun

an effect of one person or thing on another

the power of a person or thing to have such an effect

power or sway resulting from ability, wealth, position, etc

a person or thing having influence

astrology an ethereal fluid or occult power regarded as emanating from the stars and affecting a person's actions, future, etc

under the influence informal drunk

verb (tr)

to persuade or induce

to have an effect upon (actions, events, etc); affect

Derived Forms

influenceable, adjectiveinfluencer, noun

Word Origin for influence

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

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

Idioms and Phrases with influence

influence

see under the influence.