influence

[ in-floo-uhns ]

/ ˈɪn flu əns /

Save This Word!

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.

OTHER WORDS 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

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about 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

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use influence in a sentence

As you see, the data and our daily experience on the Internet show that it’s hard to argue that social media influence purchase decisions.
How social media influence 71% consumer buying decisions|Aleh Barysevich|November 20, 2020|Search Engine Watch
In one sign of that generation’s growing influence, some 70% of consumers overall now claim they buy or boycott products or services based on the social stances of the companies that make or sell them.
Purpose, or ‘purpose- washing’? A crossroads for business leaders|Alan Murray|November 11, 2020|Fortune
They wanted to know what would happen to the moods and psychologies of stable-brained people who ingested psilocybin, and what those changes had to do with any spiritual strangeness that might occur while they were under the influence.
What happens when psychedelics make you see God|Sarah Scoles|November 9, 2020|Popular-Science
In particular, as The Drum points out, “how brands give back to communities and people will be a huge influence on shoppers this year.”
Winter is coming: How to prepare your content strategy for a COVID-19 winter|Edward Coram James|November 4, 2020|Search Engine Watch

This exchange, known as the Great American Biotic Interchange, had a major influence on the distribution of mammals in the Americas today.
Why South America’s ancient mammals may have lost out to northern counterparts|Jake Buehler|November 4, 2020|Science News
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
Ricky was very influenced by This Is Spinal Tap, and I was always a fan of Woody Allen movies.
Stephen Merchant Talks ‘Hello Ladies’ movie, the Nicole Kidman Cameo, and Legacy of ‘The Office’|Marlow Stern|November 22, 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
She has been much influenced by Gainsborough, Lawrence, and Reynolds, traces of their manner being evident in her work.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
Something influenced by his reasoning, Ripperda employed the greatest part of the day in writing a large packet for his son.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
In choosing Massna to carry to Paris the tidings of peace, it was not only his prestige and renown which influenced Bonaparte.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
The ceremony inevitably lacked certain of the traditional accessories that strangely influenced the popular mind.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
The economic destiny of a region is greatly influenced by its natural resources as well as by its location.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with influence

influence

see under the influence.

influence

OTHER WORDS FOR influence

Idioms about influence

Origin of influence

OTHER WORDS FROM influence

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH influence

Words related to influence

How to use influence in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for influence

Derived forms of influence

Word Origin for influence

Other Idioms and Phrases with influence