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 confusedaffluence 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 influenced

As Gaidar suggests, this is the rare case when public reaction has influenced authorities at all.
Putin’s Health Care Disaster|Anna Nemtsova|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But this is a situation in which the films have influenced the behavior of young pro-democracy activists in real life.
‘The Hunger Games’ Stars Silent on Thai Protesters|Asawin Suebsaeng|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was obvious to me that Bill Evans was influenced by Ravel, too.
Herbie Hancock Holds Forth|David Yaffe|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But what influenced his change of heart to move away from Jacobinism as an ideology?
Napoleon Was a Dynamite Dictator|J.P. O’Malley|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Still other critics are baffled that Borges was influenced by such strange and disparate sources.
Borges Had A Genius For Literature But Not Love Or Much Else|Allen Barra|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Although often most fatal in winter, there is no proof that its prevalence is influenced by season.
The Catholic World. Volume II; Numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.|E. Rameur
Philosophical studies were influenced by the current ideas of the age.
A History of Spain|Charles E. Chapman
Yet as the days passed, he became more interested in her, influenced by her nearness to him, and still more by her remoteness.
The Mountain Girl|Payne Erskine
On the other hand there is the converse fact that the voice may be influenced through expression and gesture.
Criminal Psychology|Hans Gross
Strong in self-confidence, she had no fear that her mind could be influenced to stray from its proper path.
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 5, May, 1864|Various

British Dictionary definitions for influenced

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 Formsinfluenceable, 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 influenced

influence

see under the influence.

influence

noun

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

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of influence

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for influenced

British Dictionary definitions for influenced

influence

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for influence

Idioms and Phrases with influenced

influence