influence

noun in·flu·ence \ ˈin-ˌflü-ən(t)s , especially Southern in-ˈflü- \

|Updated on: 9 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: influence in a Sentence

Editor's Note: The Surprising History of Influence and Its Modern Use

Definition of influence

plural influences

1 a : an ethereal fluid held to flow from the stars and to affect the actions of humans

b : an emanation of occult power held to derive from stars

2 : an emanation of spiritual or moral force

3 a : the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command

b : corrupt interference with authority for personal gain

4 : the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways : sway

5 : one that exerts influence

— under the influence

: affected by alcohol or drug intoxication

was arrested for driving under the influence

See influence defined for English-language learners

See influence defined for kids

Examples of influence in a Sentence

Recent years have seen a decline in the company's influence within the industry.
Her ideas have gradually gained influence in the company.
He used his influence to reform the company's policies.
She has remained under the influence of her parents.
She claims that her personal problems played no influence upon her decision to resign.
His health problems may have had some influence on his decision.
Her parents still have a great deal of influence over her.
The chairman wields considerable influence over the board's decisions.
Her parents are concerned that her new friends may have a bad influence on her.
Emily Dickinson has had a major influence on his poetry.

Recent Examples of influence from the Web

The driver was not under the influence and was determined not to be at fault, Demarest said.

— karen kucher, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Pedestrian hit, killed while walking in road in Lakeside," 5 July 2018
He has been charged with manslaughter and driving under the influence in connection with Kriener's death, troopers said.

— devin kelly, Anchorage Daily News, "Man charged with manslaughter, DUI after girlfriend run over by truck on Prince of Wales Island," 4 July 2018
Williams has a pending case in Kane County where he is charged with driving under the influence in Elgin in February.

— megan jones, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora man accused of killing softball coach in hit-and-run crash was not wearing required glasses: prosecutors," 3 July 2018
According to court records, he has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence in an accident involving death and leaving the scene of an accident involving death.

— clifford ward, chicagotribune.com, "Second person dies from crash last month in Bensenville; authorities issue warrant for driver they say caused incident," 3 July 2018
Driving under the influence Release Date: June 23 at 9:06 a.m.

— judith zizzo, Sun-Sentinel.com, "DUI, burglary and battery among recent Boca arrests," 3 July 2018
Sam has been clean and sober since last summer when he was arrested for driving under the influence.

— rebecca kesten, Fox News, "Battling the despair of opioid addiction in an unexpected place," 1 July 2018
Watts was later charged with murder, wanton endangerment and driving under the influence, Smiley said.

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "26-year-old killed in motorcycle crash on Broadway identified," 1 July 2018
In some instances, officers who had pulled a vehicle over that was driving erratically, thinking the driver was on his or her phone, turned out to be a driver under the influence, McCarthy said.

— mike nolan, Daily Southtown, "Orland Park among top communities in 2017 for DUI arrests, according to survey," 29 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'influence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The Surprising History of Influence and Its Modern Use

Influence may seem like a ho-hum word, but its history is heavenly.

The word first referred to a celestial fluid that was believed to flow from the stars. As this fluid reached the Earth, it supposedly affected the actions of the planet's inhabitants—especially the human ones. (The word influenza has the same origin: the Medieval Latin word influentia. It was for a time believed that epidemics were caused by unusual conjunctions of the planets.)

In modern use, the noun typically refers to the power to change or affect someone or something—especially the power to cause changes without directly forcing those changes to happen. Influence can also refer to a person or thing that affects someone or something in an important way.

The noun had been in use for more than 200 years before the verb use developed. As a verb, influence typically means "to affect or change someone or something in an indirect but usually important way." Something or someone that influences a person or thing, then, has an influence on that person or thing.

Origin and Etymology of influence

Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin influentia, from Latin influent-, influens, present participle of influere to flow in, from in- + fluere to flow — more at fluid

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

influence Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of influence

influence, authority, prestige, weight, credit mean power exerted over the minds or behavior of others. influence may apply to a force exercised and received consciously or unconsciously.

- used her influence to get the bill passed

authority implies the power of winning devotion or allegiance or of compelling acceptance and belief.

- his opinions lacked authority

prestige implies the ascendancy given by conspicuous excellence or reputation for superiority.

- the prestige of the newspaper

weight implies measurable or decisive influence in determining acts or choices.

- their wishes obviously carried much weight

credit suggests influence that arises from the confidence of others.

- his credit with the press

influence

verb

Definition of influence

influenced; influencing

transitive verb

1 : to affect or alter by indirect or intangible means

She attempted to influence his decision.

greatly influenced by my parents

2 : to have an effect on the condition or development of

Productivity was influenced by worker satisfaction.

—

influenceable

play \ˈin-ˌflü-ən(t)-sə-bəl\ adjective

- In the situation where performance measures are not seen as influenceable, there is little chance of the person seeing a connection between his effort and his rewards.
- —Lyman W. Porter et al.

—

influencer

noun, plural influencers

- The old theme of laziness and mellowness runs counter to today's influencers, who are businesspeople and upscale inspirational promoters of a go-getter way of life.
- —John C. Dvorak

See influence defined for English-language learners

Examples of influence in a Sentence

I was deeply influenced by my parents.
She claims that her decision to resign was not influenced by her personal problems.
No one knows how this decision will influence the outcome of the election.
He's accused of illegally attempting to influence the jury.

Recent Examples of influence from the Web

And in their Declaration of Independence – and later in their Constitution – the Founders of the US were consciously framing the world’s first nation influenced by the Enlightenment.

— mark sappenfield, The Christian Science Monitor, "The largest patriotism," 3 July 2018
Led by Brewmaster Peter Wiens and Head Brewer Hollie Stephenson, the Maryland team will take over the production of Guinness Blonde and experiment with new beers influenced by both American and Maryland brewing tradition.

— ronnie crocker, Houston Chronicle, "Vacation planner: Guinness readies U.S. brewery for August opening," 3 July 2018
His macho bluster now seems a period piece—influenced by Ernest Hemingway and Nelson Algren, and paralleled by the antics of Ellison’s contemporaries like Norman Mailer and Hunter S. Thompson.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "Harlan Ellison’s Death Raises a #MeToo Quandary," 2 July 2018
Some experts also believe that because the Russian government today is heavily staffed and influenced by members of security agencies, whose predecessors conducted the purges, Dmitriyev’s work is a thorn in their sides.

— Washington Post, "New fears in Russia as researcher of Stalin purges arrested," 30 June 2018
The 27-year-old has had his football education influenced by a host of experiences across the world having been born in Italy to Brazilian parents, raised in Spain and now currently playing in Germany.

— SI.com, "Spain's Thiago Admits He 'Enjoys English Football' the Most as He Weighs in on Three Lions' Style," 30 June 2018
The eventual price a consumer pays for a treatment is influenced by an opaque system of drugmakers, insurers and middlemen called pharmacy-benefit managers.

— Fortune, "Jeff Bezos Just Did President Trump a Big Favor on Drug Pricing," 28 June 2018
Dances of eastern Armenia, developed a Caucasian style of dance influenced by members of the Russian ballet who came into the territory incorporating acrobatics and ballet in performances that were often designed for the stage, not participation.

— roger catlin, Smithsonian, "How Armenian Dance Adapted Over Time and Place," 26 June 2018
The extension comes at the mid-point of a six-year project to explore Mozart’s major works, played alongside works by his important contemporaries as well as works by composers strongly influenced by Mozart.

— marcus overton, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Mainly Mozart orchestra, led by Michael Francis, closes 30th season with impressive Mendelssohn," 24 June 2018

First Known Use of influence

1658

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

influence Synonyms

Synonyms

affect, impact, impress, move, reach, strike, sway, tell (on), touch;

Near Antonyms

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary;

underwhelm;

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;

Phrases

get to;

Synonym Discussion of influence

affect, influence, touch, impress, strike, sway mean to produce or have an effect upon. affect implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction.

- the sight affected her to tears

influence implies a force that brings about a change (as in nature or behavior).

- our beliefs are influenced by our upbringing

touch may carry a vivid suggestion of close contact and may connote stirring, arousing, or harming.

- plants touched by frost
- his emotions were touched by her distress

impress stresses the depth and persistence of the effect.

- only one of the plans impressed him

strike, similar to but weaker than impress, may convey the notion of sudden sharp perception or appreciation.

- struck by the solemnity of the occasion

sway implies the acting of influences that are not resisted or are irresistible, with resulting change in character or course of action.

- politicians who are swayed by popular opinion

INFLUENCE Defined for English Language Learners

influence

noun

Definition of influence for English Language Learners

: the power to change or affect someone or something : the power to cause changes without directly forcing them to happen
: a person or thing that affects someone or something in an important way

influence

verb

Definition of influence for English Language Learners

: to affect or change (someone or something) in an indirect but usually important way : to have an influence on (someone or something)

INFLUENCE Defined for Kids

influence

noun in·flu·ence \ ˈin-ˌflü-əns \

Definition of influence for Students

1 : the act or power of causing an effect or change without use of direct force or authority

You could move to some other part of Mexico, but … Luis's influence is far-reaching.
—Pam Muñoz Ryan,

2 : a person or thing that has an indirect but usually important effect

She's a bad influence on him.

influence

verb

Definition of influence for Students

influenced; influencing

: to affect or change in an indirect but usually important way I was influenced by my parents.

Law Dictionary

influence

noun in·flu·ence

legal Definition of influence

1 a : the act or power of producing an effect without any apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command

b : corrupt interference with authority for personal gain

2 : the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways

3 : one that exerts influence

—

influencer

noun

— under the influence

: affected by alcohol or another intoxicant

was arrested for driving under the influence

influence

transitive verb

legal Definition of influence

influenced; influencing

1 : to alter or affect by indirect or intangible means

the exemption would allow a conglomerate that owns both a media business and an unrelated business to influence or control the media
—Citizens United v. Federal Election Commʼn, 130 S. Ct. 876 (2010)

2 : to have an effect on the condition or development of