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:
Our field’s foundational laws, regulatory guidelines and ethical mandates stipulate that organ donation must never influence or interfere with the degree or timing of one’s medical care.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
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
The BBC's North America editor Sarah Smith previews the visit and explains the late senator's remarkable influence on the two conflicts.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 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
Whatever lingering influence she had on him was enough.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Far less is known about how unsweetened sparkling water influences acidity inside the mouth.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
Her earliest boxing influences were her uncles, Sandeep Singh and Parvinder Singh.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 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
In her early songs, her singing rarely rose above a whisper, suggesting the quieter and more conversational mode sometimes deployed by two of her other influences, Lorde and Lana Del Rey.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Father: “I don’t know where you picked up that slacker attitude, but you certainly didn’t learn it at home. Probably from the bad influences up here.”
From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson
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
Those variations can be influenced by factors including solar activity and changes in Earth's magnetic field.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
The comedian later said his father's work ethic greatly influenced his approach to his own career.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
It is influenced by trends in general education, society, culture, and politics.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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
Scientists say a brewing "super" El Nino in the equatorial Pacific could also be influencing the heat dome.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
Beyond influencing how people respond to snake encounters, the researchers say the myth has also affected how rattlesnakes are treated.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026
The mockumentary-style sitcom has become a global phenomenon, inspiring multiple international adaptations and influencing an entire generation of comedy.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Even the wealthiest men, influencing the far-off London exchanges and local commerce alike, provided no inspiration.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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.
