impact

¹im·pact

verb \im-ˈpakt\

Definition of IMPACT

transitive verb

1

a : to fix firmly by or as if by packing or wedging b : to press together

2

a : to have a direct effect or impact on : impinge on b : to strike forcefully; also : to cause to strike forcefully

intransitive verb

1

: to have an impact —often used with on

2

: to impinge or make contact especially forcefully

— im·pact·ful \im-ˈpakt-fəl, ˈim-ˌpakt-fəl\ adjective

— im·pac·tive \im-ˈpak-tiv\ adjective

— im·pac·tor also im·pact·er \-tər\ noun

Examples of IMPACT

1. No one is sure how these changes will impact our relations with other countries.
2. Both events negatively impacted her life.
3. The tax increase will impact low-income families the most.
4. The poor economy is impacting on small businesses.
5. A crater was formed at the point where the meteor impacted the planet's surface.

Origin of IMPACT

Latin impactus, past participle of impingere to push against — more at impinge

First Known Use: 1601

Related to IMPACT

Synonyms: ¹affect, impress, influence, move, reach, strike, sway, tell (on), touch

Antonyms: dislodge, root (out), uproot

Related Words: carry away, dazzle, enrapture, entrance, enthrall (or enthral), ravish, transport; bias, color; inspire, stir; engage, interest, involve, penetrate, pierce; afflict, agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, disturb, fluster, harass, harry, perturb, pester, plague, smite, strain, stress, trouble, try, upset, worry, wring; allure, attract, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate

Near Antonyms: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary; underwhelm

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with IMPACT

abstract, attract, class act, compact, contact, contract, crookbacked, detract, didact, diffract, distract, enact, entr'acte, epact, exact, extract, humpbacked, hunchbacked, infract, intact, mossbacked, playact, protract, react, redact, refract, retract, sex act, subtract, swaybacked, transact, unbacked