influence

[ in-floo-uhns ]

/ ˈɪn flu əns /

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See synonyms for: influence / influenced / influences / influencing 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.

SYNONYMS FOR influence

1 effect, sway.

2 pressure, guidance.

7 impress, move, bias, direct, control.

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

See synonyms for influence on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms for influence

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

OTHER WORDS FROM influence

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH influence

affluence, effluence, influence

Words nearby influence

inflict, infliction, in-flight, inflorescence, inflow, influence, influence peddler, influencer, influent, influential, influenza

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

WHEN TO USE

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.

Example sentences from the Web for influence

He’s unaware of who else is on the panel and how much influence the panels will have on the process.
Oceanside Is Rethinking Its Police Chief Hiring Process Following Community Concerns|Kayla Jimenez|September 14, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Under Huang, Nvidia has risen rapidly up the ranks of technology companies in market value and influence.
Nvidia is buying SoftBank’s Arm chip division in biggest semiconductor deal ever|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 14, 2020|Fortune
The extensive observations allowed them to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of the disk torn apart by the influences of the three stars.
A strange dusty disk could hide a planet betwixt three stars|Paola Rosa-Aquino|September 11, 2020|Popular Science
Given how much influence steering winds have over hurricane speed and trajectory, climate change may influence stalling by reshaping large-scale wind patterns.
Slow, meandering hurricanes are often more dangerous—and they’re getting more common|Greta Moran|September 9, 2020|Popular Science

Taken together, the government has substantial influence on medical innovation.
Times of strife can lead to medical innovation—when governments are willing|By Jeffrey Clemens/The Conversation|September 9, 2020|Popular Science
Police have unions, for one, and those unions influence the elections of their civilian leadership.
A Veteran’s View: NYC Cold War Between Cops and City Hall|Matt Gallagher|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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
Archrival India has money to throw around, and Iran and Russia are also exerting influence in the region.
Pakistan’s Dance With Terrorists Just Backfired and Killed 132 Children|Chris Allbritton|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After her marriage to Eugène Manet she came under the influence of his famous brother, Édouard.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
So intelligent were her methods that she doubtless had great influence in making the memory of his art enduring.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
It is probable that Mlle. Mayer came under the influence of Prud'hon as early as 1802, possibly before that time.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
The voice is the most potent influence of expression, the winged messenger between soul and soul.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Under the soothing influence of beauty, however, the vicar forgot his woes.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

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 of influence

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.

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influence

noun

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

SYNONYMS FOR influence