influence
Americannoun
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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)
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 shift made waves in Arab media, underscoring the South Carolina lawmaker’s outsize influence on U.S. foreign policy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
With the ever-growing influence of T20s, and an increasing gap in financial opportunities to fund the game professionally, where do women's Tests fit in?
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
In establishing these commissions, Congress wanted the commissioners to use their expertise and collective decisionmaking to shape important areas of policy without partisan influence.
From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026
It’s possible the World Cup could boost services costs in June given the demand for hotels, flights, meals and tickets from people going to the matches, but any influence should prove short-lived.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
Even then, however, Madison’s habitual shyness and his willingness to remain within Jefferson's shadow probably concealed the extent of his independent influence on the partnership.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
"It's partly about artificial pitches, but it's also about influences," added Grottland.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
A solid debut, “England’s Newest Hitmakers” features covers of songs by Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry and Jimmy Reed, firmly grounding the group in its American blues and R&B influences.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
My generation has suffered from two vicious influences that have undermined our collective elasticity and perseverance, and with that, our willingness to take risks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Being an island, Cuba has a government that has been better able to contain the impact of outside influences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Astrology contends that which constellation the planets are in at the moment of your birth profoundly influences your future.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Korine influenced Stillz to go back to his roots in Colombia, after the first-time feature director initially considered making a project in his hometown of Miami.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
It found that prediction markets are unduly influenced by their biggest traders, and these so-called “whales” do worse, on average, than those who place smaller bets.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
The “Little House” devotees who prefer to write off the books’ dips into racism by accepting them as a reflection of a time in America may also have been influenced by the TV show’s filter.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
Regardless of whether this relationship actually influenced the decision to drop the film, it’s undoubtedly important context for Amazon MGM’s handling of the project.
From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026
He decided that all his life he had been influenced by things around him.
From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Alessi added that a brewing "super" El Nino in the equatorial Pacific could also be influencing the heat dome.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Beyond influencing how people respond to snake encounters, the researchers say the myth has also affected how rattlesnakes are treated.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
It shifts warm ocean water across the tropical Pacific, influencing weather around the globe.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 3, 2026
The statistics suggest City have not simply agreed to sign another technically-gifted midfielder, they are acquiring a player capable of influencing every phase of the game.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
She doesn’t know a thing about me, yet she wants to use one song to make me into the big bad villain who is influencing her precious son.
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
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.
