influence
Americannoun
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influences
plural
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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.
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the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others.
Her mother's influence made her stay.
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a person or thing that exerts influence.
He is an influence for the good.
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Astrology.
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the radiation of an ethereal fluid from the stars, regarded as affecting human actions and destinies.
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the exercise of occult power by the stars, or such power as exercised.
-
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the exercise of similar power by human beings.
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Obsolete. influx.
verb (used with object)
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influences,
present (3rd person singular)
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influenced,
past participle, past
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influencing
present participle
idioms
noun
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an effect of one person or thing on another
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the power of a person or thing to have such an effect
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power or sway resulting from ability, wealth, position, etc
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a person or thing having influence
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astrology an ethereal fluid or occult power regarded as emanating from the stars and affecting a person's actions, future, etc
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informal drunk
verb
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to persuade or induce
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to have an effect upon (actions, events, etc); affect
Usage
What are other ways to say influence? Influence is the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions of another or others. How does influence compare to control and authority? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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counterinfluencenoun
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influencernoun
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noninfluencenoun
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preinfluencenoun
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superinfluencenoun
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interinfluenceverb
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outinfluenceverb (used with object)
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overinfluenceverb (used with object)
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reinfluenceverb (used with object)
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influenceableadjective
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uninfluencedadjective
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uninfluencingadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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influencesimple
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influencessimple
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have influencedperfect
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has influencedperfect
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am influencingprogressive
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are influencingprogressive
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is influencingprogressive
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have been influencingperfect progressive
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has been influencingperfect progressive
Past
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influencedsimple
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had influencedperfect
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was influencingprogressive
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were influencingprogressive
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had been influencingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of influence
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Medieval Latin influentia “stellar emanation,” equivalent to Latin influent- ( see influent) + -ia -y 3; see -ence
Explanation
Influence is the power to have an important effect on someone or something. If someone influences someone else, they are changing a person or thing in an indirect but important way. Sometimes a person who influences another doesn't intend to have any effect, but sometimes they are using influence to benefit themselves. An example of a personal benefit or advantage would be the use of political influence. Influence is also a verb, from Latin influere to flow in.
Vocabulary lists containing influence
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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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.
See Examples For:
Shortly after taking his job, Bessent made the bold claim that the administration could influence the market and drive down yields to lower borrowing costs for Americans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
They have also lost Harry Wilson's attacking influence from last season and Raul Jimenez, who led the line for them so well too.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
In its statement earlier this week to The Times, Median Strategies said the poll wasn’t released to influence trading markets — a point that Prakash made in his interview with the Guardian.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
"For many months now, espionage, sabotage and extremely far-reaching attempts to exert influence have been part of everyday life."
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
“Nobody’s allowed to be a bad influence on the rich kid.”
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Other influences, including hormones, also play important roles.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
The Journal previously ran a Personal Board of Directors series asking prominent business leaders like Oscar Munoz and Carla Harris about mentors who remained influences throughout their careers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
The 10-year Treasury yield, which influences borrowing costs across the economy, advanced to 4.695%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Behind the move was a desire to explore new influences and expand her sound.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
We were tight on the early influences too.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
Judge Choudhury said her decision was influenced by audio recordings of phone calls and expert testimony showing Jeffries possesses sufficient cognitive function to participate in his defense.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
UK energy prices are heavily influenced by international markets, leaving gas prices exposed to external shocks even if domestic production increases.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
The researchers identified particular variants that influenced the female-biased expression of two genes linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
The good news is that AI is currently influenced by SEO strategies.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026
A lot of people got up to say how she influenced them.
From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds
Energy markets and oil prices also play an important role in influencing the COLA.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
Environmental adaptation was not the only force influencing the global spread of dogs.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 2026
Another example of ancient wisdom influencing modern techniques can be found in the way Australia fights fire with fire.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
The lawsuit accused the city’s Rent Guidelines Board of using a “sham process” before voting in June and Mamdani of influencing the outcome.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
If heredity too had a universal natural law, then it was likely influencing the genesis of peas as much as the genesis of humans.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Definitions 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.
