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:
This has meant south or south-westerly winds bringing warmer than normal conditions and high pressure having more of an influence leading to reduced rainfall for many.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
It is also a testament to the positive influence that pets can exert on their owners’ interiorities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Scientists have long understood that a patient's physical fitness can influence their ability to withstand illness.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
The expert pointed to Macron's influence over talks on Christine Lagarde's successor as head of the European Central Bank and the EU budget talks.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
As for the Incorrigibles’ desire to join in the knitting: at first Lady Constance protested, for she still held strong opinions about what a bad influence the wolf children would be on her own child.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
DEAF1 also influences muscle stem cells, which are specialized cells that help repair and regenerate muscle tissue after injury or damage.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
“There’s likely to be pretty profound influences along the coast,” Cayan said of the months ahead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
The approach may eventually improve scientists' understanding of how diet influences obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic conditions.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
"Of course we have to discuss it, but it's not like that influences the discussions in the room and decisions that come out," the secretary of the committee, Kristian Berg Harpviken, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
A holistic approach not only includes children’s cognitive development, but their musical environment and cultural influences.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
In other words, the language of a prompt influenced the cultural assumptions underlying its response.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
Macro factors have also influenced RBC’s thinking on the downgrade.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
Stevenson added that reviews were "heavily influenced by clinical notes which is one account of what happened", but believes parents' "voices should be placed on an equal footing".
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Yields on Treasury securities are heavily influenced by investors’ expectations for how the Fed will set interest rates in coming years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
In thinking about what influenced my own life, I began by considering the events and people who came before me.
From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers
"We think that it could really be worthwhile to look at the physiology of crayfish to see if something there is influencing their body size."
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
“Costume designers have long been overlooked for the importance of their work in creating and influencing mainstream contemporary fashion,” fellow fashion designer Tom Ford told The Times in a 2019 email.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
They mostly relied on moral suasion, when for the previous few thousand years much influencing came at the point of a sword.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Martin Shkreli, a former hedge-fund manager known as “Pharma Bro,” is back in the crosshairs of U.S. regulators for influencing biopharma stocks even though he is banned from being involved with the industry.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
Related to these factors affecting diffusion within continents is a third set of factors influencing diffusion between continents, which may also help build up a local pool of domesticates and technology.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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