influential
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of influential
First recorded in 1560–70; from Medieval Latin influenti(a) “stellar emanation” ( see influence) + -al 1
Explanation
If your grandfather worked his whole life in a circus and inspired you to wear clown shoes, you could describe your grandfather as very influential in your life. Something that exerts influence or power can be called influential. You could read a deeply meaningful book that becomes influential to you, or there might be an important person in your life who is strongly influential over various decisions you make. The Latin word influentem, "flowing in," is the root of the Old French influence, which described the power was believed to flow from the stars.
Vocabulary lists containing influential
Very Necessary: Synonyms for "Important"
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Latin Love, Vol II: fluere
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Unwind
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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.
His resignation marks the loss of an influential corporate voice “from the debate over what access China should have to advanced U.S. chips,” Zephirin said.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 13, 2026
He had recruited a cohort of influential traditionalists—Untermeyer, DeVoto, Robert Hillyer, Mark Van Doren, Sidney Cox and others.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
Beckham's former team-mate Gary Neville called him the "most influential player out of England in transforming football".
From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026
In recent years, Huang has become one of the AI industry's most influential voices, strongly advocating for so-called "open" models that can be freely reused and modified -- including those from China.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026
That mission was supported by McKissick’s neighbor and colleague the Reverend Douglas Moore, now a board member of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, influential Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
