influence
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.
the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others: Her mother's influence made her stay.
a person or thing that exerts influence: He is an influence for the good.
Astrology.
the radiation of an ethereal fluid from the stars, regarded as affecting human actions and destinies.
the exercise of occult power by the stars, or such power as exercised.
the exercise of similar power by human beings.
Obsolete. influx.
Idioms about influence
under the influence, Law. less than drunk but with one's nervous system impaired: He was driving while under the influence.: Also under the influence of intoxicating liquor .
Origin of influence
1Other words for influence
Other words from influence
- in·flu·ence·a·ble, adjective
- in·flu·enc·er, noun
- coun·ter·in·flu·ence, noun, verb (used with object), coun·ter·in·flu·enced, coun·ter·in·flu·enc·ing.
- in·ter·in·flu·ence, verb, in·ter·in·flu·enced, in·ter·in·flu·enc·ing.
- non·in·flu·ence, noun
- out·in·flu·ence, verb (used with object), out·in·flu·enced, out·in·flu·enc·ing.
- o·ver·in·flu·ence, verb (used with object), o·ver·in·flu·enced, o·ver·in·flu·enc·ing.
- pre·in·flu·ence, noun
- re·in·flu·ence, verb (used with object), re·in·flu·enced, re·in·flu·enc·ing.
- su·per·in·flu·ence, noun, verb (used with object), su·per·in·flu·enced, su·per·in·flu·enc·ing.
- un·in·flu·enced, adjective
- un·in·flu·enc·ing, adjective
Words that may be confused with influence
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use influence in a sentence
As you see, the data and our daily experience on the Internet show that it’s hard to argue that social media influence purchase decisions.
How social media influence 71% consumer buying decisions | Aleh Barysevich | November 20, 2020 | Search Engine WatchIn one sign of that generation’s growing influence, some 70% of consumers overall now claim they buy or boycott products or services based on the social stances of the companies that make or sell them.
Purpose, or ‘purpose- washing’? A crossroads for business leaders | Alan Murray | November 11, 2020 | FortuneThey wanted to know what would happen to the moods and psychologies of stable-brained people who ingested psilocybin, and what those changes had to do with any spiritual strangeness that might occur while they were under the influence.
In particular, as The Drum points out, “how brands give back to communities and people will be a huge influence on shoppers this year.”
Winter is coming: How to prepare your content strategy for a COVID-19 winter | Edward Coram James | November 4, 2020 | Search Engine WatchThis exchange, known as the Great American Biotic Interchange, had a major influence on the distribution of mammals in the Americas today.
Why South America’s ancient mammals may have lost out to northern counterparts | Jake Buehler | November 4, 2020 | Science News
As Gaidar suggests, this is the rare case when public reaction has influenced authorities at all.
Ricky was very influenced by This Is Spinal Tap, and I was always a fan of Woody Allen movies.
Stephen Merchant Talks ‘Hello Ladies’ movie, the Nicole Kidman Cameo, and Legacy of ‘The Office’ | Marlow Stern | November 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut this is a situation in which the films have influenced the behavior of young pro-democracy activists in real life.
‘The Hunger Games’ Stars Silent on Thai Protesters | Asawin Suebsaeng | November 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt was obvious to me that Bill Evans was influenced by Ravel, too.
But what influenced his change of heart to move away from Jacobinism as an ideology?
She has been much influenced by Gainsborough, Lawrence, and Reynolds, traces of their manner being evident in her work.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D. | Clara Erskine ClementSomething influenced by his reasoning, Ripperda employed the greatest part of the day in writing a large packet for his son.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterIn choosing Massna to carry to Paris the tidings of peace, it was not only his prestige and renown which influenced Bonaparte.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonThe ceremony inevitably lacked certain of the traditional accessories that strangely influenced the popular mind.
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. MurisonThe economic destiny of a region is greatly influenced by its natural resources as well as by its location.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia | Dorothy M. Torpey
British Dictionary definitions for influence
/ (ˈɪnflʊəns) /
an effect of one person or thing on another
the power of a person or thing to have such an effect
power or sway resulting from ability, wealth, position, etc
a person or thing having influence
astrology an ethereal fluid or occult power regarded as emanating from the stars and affecting a person's actions, future, etc
under the influence informal drunk
to persuade or induce
to have an effect upon (actions, events, etc); affect
Origin of influence
1Derived forms of influence
- influenceable, adjective
- influencer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with influence
see under the influence.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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