influence

[ in-floo-uhns ]

/ ˈɪn flu əns /

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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

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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

Gen Z and Millenials are more likely to be influenced, with 84% of millennials saying user-generated content from strangers has at least some influence on how they spend their money.
How social media influence 71% consumer buying decisions|Aleh Barysevich|November 20, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Even outside of the influence of the pandemic, the customer experience was expected to surpass product and price as the key brand differentiator.
Five SEO tips to dominate local search this holiday season|Jim Yu|November 20, 2020|Search Engine Watch
Sometimes things like that make their way into trending topics, and then they have a big influence.
EmTech Stage: Twitter’s CTO on misinformation|Tate Ryan-Mosley|November 18, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Plan your digital holiday advertising campaign around shopping trends to improve brand consideration and influence consumer decision-making whether they’re researching products or ready to buy.
Don’t miss out on the most unpredictable holiday season yet|Sponsored Content: Microsoft Advertising|November 18, 2020|Search Engine Land

So, the idea here is to monitor your “street” presence, figure out who your current competitors are, and gradually expand your area of influence in SERPs.
How to check Google search results for different locations|Sponsored Content: SEO PowerSuite|November 17, 2020|Search Engine Land
In August 2013, his mother had warned police that Brice was being radicalized and influencing Bertrand.
France’s Wave of Crazy-Terror Christmas Attacks|Christopher Dickey|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As she tells patients about the steps of self-dehydration, she tries to avoid influencing their decisions.
The Nurse Coaching People Through Death by Starvation|Nick Tabor|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He pleaded to keep the initiative alive in hopes of influencing that process.
How the Reagan White House Bungled Its Response to Iran-Contra Revelations|Malcolm Byrne|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I spend more time on fund-raising than on issue influencing.
Up to a Point: In Defense of Lobbyists|P. J. O’Rourke|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like any massively successful property, the Turtles eventually began influencing its audience in unsuspecting ways.
How the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Inadvertently Caused an Environmental Crisis|Alex Suskind|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you have any thoughts of influencing me or my men to join the regular Confederate army, you may as well give up the idea.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Her mind is guiding the surging billows of the Revolution, and influencing the decisions of the proudest thrones of Europe.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
Sue had not come to talk to Tessa and she dared not go to Dr. Greysons for fear of influencing her.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
A harmonious emotional development during childhood is one of the most important factors influencing human behaviour.
Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents|Oswald Chettle Mazengarb et al.
And he carried Wildney with him, influencing others also of his late companions in a greater or less degree.
Eric, or Little by Little|Frederic W. Farrar

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