influence
Americannoun
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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)
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:
The government’s influence will be watched closely in the BOJ’s summary of opinions from this week’s meeting, particularly in remarks by the Cabinet Office representative, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
This is a nasty effort to influence the outside experts, many of whom aren’t intimately familiar with the treatments or diseases.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Scientists have uncovered the first direct evidence that inherited genetics can strongly influence cancer risk and help determine how tumors develop over time.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
Marine biologists and fisheries scientists believe human influence is the main cause - impact on climate; hydropower systems that eels have to migrate through; pollution and contamination; introduction of exotic parasites; and overfishing.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Japan wanted to eliminate Western influence in the East and create a Greater East Asia, ruled by their empire.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Far less is known about how unsweetened sparkling water influences acidity inside the mouth.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
Refn, 55, got on a video call this week while in L.A. to talk about the unlikely impact of “Drive” and some of its more unexpected influences.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Mr. Burnham likes to channel that sensibility, citing the rock icons as influences and projecting a modern sartorial everyman look; eschewing the shirt and tie for a crew neck T-shirt under a sharp suit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Within minutes, Mars sat behind a pair of bright red congas for Cha Cha, signalling the start of a set that moved between R&B, funk, Latin influences and pop.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Without Roosevelt, Elizebeth was afraid that America would be vulnerable to “evil influences like...the Klan” and homegrown fascism.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Deeply influenced by his Cuban grandfather, Rubio says he embodies the American dream.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Assemblage artist Betye Saar, who’s known for arming stereotypical images of mammies with deadly weaponry, and has influenced generations of artists, has died.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Rather than treating obesity simply as the result of poor choices, the country's new law recognises it as a chronic disease influenced by biology, environment and social circumstances.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
Some ICC officials believe the woman’s allegations may have influenced the timing of Khan’s announcement on May 20, 2024, that he would seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
The Doctrine of Discovery influenced the policies of the young United States and directly affected the lives and the very existence of Native people.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
The results indicated that OL produced its anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic effects by targeting ACOT1, regulating the arachidonic acid pathway, and influencing the downstream JAK-STAT/PI3K-AKT signaling pathways.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026
All these paths to influencing the Constitution are vital to our ability to function as a self-governing republic of equal citizens.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
Alessi added that a brewing "super" El Nino in the equatorial Pacific could also be influencing the heat dome.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
There are lots of factors beyond the gas pump influencing travel trends.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
She doesn’t know a thing about me, yet she wants to use one song to make me into the big bad villain who is influencing her precious son.
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
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.
