influence
[in-floo-uh ns]
- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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Origin of influence
Synonyms
See more synonyms for influence on Thesaurus.com2. sway, rule. 7. impress, bias, direct, control. 8. incite, rouse, arouse, instigate, induce, persuade.
Synonym study
2. See authority.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for influenced
Contemporary Examples
As Gaidar suggests, this is the rare case when public reaction has influenced authorities at all.
But this is a situation in which the films have influenced the behavior of young pro-democracy activists in real life.
It was obvious to me that Bill Evans was influenced by Ravel, too.
But what influenced his change of heart to move away from Jacobinism as an ideology?
Still other critics are baffled that Borges was influenced by such strange and disparate sources.
Historical Examples
Mr. Paine did not admire Mrs. Davis, and was not likely to be influenced by her prejudices.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
Then, quite decided not to be influenced by anybody, I set off at once with my maid for Hvre.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
Who could have influenced me, since nobody has entered my life?
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
Perhaps some hastiness in my way of proceeding may have influenced her determination.
Gomez AriasJoaqun Telesforo de Trueba y Coso
Influenced by them, the emigrants and conquerors from the north also tried to be like the Romans.
Introductory American HistoryHenry Eldridge Bourne
influence
- 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
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- to persuade or induce
- to have an effect upon (actions, events, etc); affect
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for influenced
influence
v.
1650s, from influence (n.). Related: Influenced; influencing.
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influence
n.
late 14c., an astrological term, "streaming ethereal power from the stars acting upon character or destiny of men," from Old French influence "emanation from the stars that acts upon one's character and destiny" (13c.), also "a flow of water," from Medieval Latin influentia "a flowing in" (also used in the astrological sense), from Latin influentem (nominative influens), present participle of influere "to flow into," from in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + fluere "to flow" (see fluent). Meaning "exercise of personal power by human beings" is from mid-15c.; meaning "exertion of unseen influence by persons" is from 1580s (a sense already in Medieval Latin, e.g. Aquinas). Under the influence "drunk" first attested 1866.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with influenced
influence
see under the influence.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.