impact

1 of 2

noun

im·​pact ˈim-ˌpakt 

plural impacts

1

a

: an impinging or striking especially of one body against another

b

: a forceful contact or onset

also : the impetus communicated in or as if in such a contact

2

: the force of impression of one thing on another : a significant or major effect

the impact of science on our society

a study outlining the potential environmental impacts of the construction project

impact

2 of 2

verb

im·​pact im-ˈpakt 

impacted; impacting; impacts

transitive verb

1

a

: to have a direct effect or impact on : impinge on

b

: to strike forcefully

also : to cause to strike forcefully

2

a

: to fix firmly by or as if by packing or wedging

b

: to press together

intransitive verb

1

: to have an impact

—often used with on

2

: to impinge or make contact especially forcefully

Did you know?

Is impact a verb?

You may occasionally run into claims that impact is not a verb, or that it is somehow ill-suited to a role in this part of speech. Not only is that not the case, but the verb form of impact is much older than the noun form. It is possible that the word started attracting more displeasure when it began being widely used in a figurative sense as a transitive verb ("we expect the recession to impact the company"). The word is certainly a verb, although before using it in this manner in writing it is worth considering your audience, and whether members of it are likely to consider this use problematic.

Synonyms

Noun

• effect
• influence

Verb

• influence
• affect
• impress

Choose the Right Synonym for impact

impact, collision, shock, concussion mean a forceful, even violent contact between two or more things.

impact may be used to imply contact between two things, at least one of which is impelled toward the other.

the glass shattered on impact with the floor

collision implies the coming together of two or more things with such force that both or all are damaged or their progress is severely impeded.

the collision damaged the vehicle

shock often denotes the effect produced by a collision and carries the suggestion of something that strikes or hits with force.

the shock of falling rocks

concussion when not in technical use, often suggests the shattering, disrupting, or weakening effects of a collision, explosion, or blow.

bystanders felt the concussion of the blast

Examples of impact in a Sentence

Noun

No one could have survived such an impact.

These warnings have been heard so often that they have lost their impact.

The book had a huge impact when it first came out.

We need to be concerned about the environmental impacts of all this construction.

She expects to make an immediate impact at work.

Verb

No one is sure how these changes will impact our relations with other countries.

Both events negatively impacted her life.

The tax increase will impact low-income families the most.

The poor economy is impacting on small businesses.

A crater was formed at the point where the meteor impacted the planet's surface.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ironically, the impact will hit especially hard in Republican areas–a fact that Forbes (and others) thought last November might protect the industry from such savage cuts. —Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

This could be a $6 million per season deal that doesn't pan out to being an impact addition. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025

Verb

Black culture has always shaped the world, but too often, our bodies, voices, and full identities are left out of the decisions that impact us most. —Essence, 6 July 2025

Visiting America's national parks is about to get more expensive for international tourists, but that's not the only change ordered by President Donald Trump that will impact park visitors. —Eve Chen, USA Today, 5 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

1781, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1601, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Phrases Containing impact

• high-impact
• impact printer
• low-impact
• non-impact printer
• on/upon impact

Rhymes for impact

• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• detract
• distract
• enact
• exact
• extract
• hijacked
• intact

Kids Definition

impact

1 of 2 verb

im·​pact im-ˈpakt 

1

: to have a strong effect on

volcanic ash impacted weather conditions worldwide

2

: to hit or cause to hit with force

impact

2 of 2 noun

im·​pact ˈim-ˌpakt 

1

: a striking together of two bodies : collision

2

: a forceful effect

the impact of pollution on the environment