sphere of influence
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of sphere of influence
First recorded in 1880–85
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.
He predicted Iran will now see the Persian Gulf’s oil-rich monarchies as its own sphere of influence.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026
The next major milestone is expected overnight Sunday into Monday, at which point the astronauts will enter the "lunar sphere of influence," where the Moon's gravity will have stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth's.
From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026
The Monroe Doctrine dates back to the U.S. president in 1823 who articulated his opposition to further European colonization of Latin America which he asserted would henceforth be a U.S. sphere of influence.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 30, 2025
It must therefore seek to survive within the de facto sphere of influence of its hostile neighbor.
From Slate • Mar. 19, 2025
What there is in this world, I think, is a tendency for human errors to level themselves like water throughout their sphere of influence.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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.
