influence

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

|Updated on: 11 Jun 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 unchecked power and influence of government unions in Missouri is an issue our leaders need to address for the benefit of not only our government workers, but taxpayers as well.

— kansascity, "Jean Paul Bradshaw," 5 June 2018
Joel Francisco Juan, 32, was behind bars in lieu of $500,000 bail on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and two counts of felony driving under the influence.

— city news service, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Oceanside woman killed by suspected drunk driver in Escondido identified," 5 June 2018
Before this arrest, Matute had been convicted of driving under the influence three times and was in immigration removal proceedings.

— samantha west, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Undocumented Honduran gets more than 3 years for possession of AR-15 assault-style rifle," 4 June 2018
Marquis Ortiz Namyslowski, 20, is in Polk County Jail and facing multiple charges, including driving under the influence, reckless driving and assault, according to Oregon State Police.

— corlyn voorhees, OregonLive.com, "Driver in Highway 99 accident faces DUI, reckless driving charges," 3 June 2018
The goal isn’t to vindicate the abstract right to free speech but to assert the right’s power and influence over campus discourse — to force the campus mainstream into a choice between allowing vile ideas to spread or looking hostile to free speech.

— zack beauchamp, Vox, "A conservative Stanford professor plotted to dig up dirt on a liberal student," 1 June 2018
He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and cited for loitering or refusing to leave a designated evacuation zone.

— Fox News, "The Latest: Man goes past checkpoint, crashes into hard lava," 1 June 2018
Dotson was charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence after being pulled over for allegedly driving 50 mph in a 30 mph zone while headed eastbound on 95th street, prosecutors said.

— howard ludwig, Daily Southtown, "Convicted murderer charged with DUI in Oak Lawn," 29 May 2018
In 2007, he was convicted of driving under the influence.

— NBC News, "They came here as refugees. Now the U.S. may be deporting some Vietnamese nationals.," 23 May 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

The company had claimed that Don's criticism of Guy and the corporation's board was a misleading effort to influence Calista's upcoming board elections.

— nathaniel herz, Anchorage Daily News, "Court filings expose power struggle over sex harassment charges at Native corporation Calista," 8 June 2018
Many blatantly aggressive moves, including the attempt to influence the 2016 U.S. election, took place after Moscow had its G-7 membership rescinded.

— adam taylor, Washington Post, "The G-7 has always been an informal club. With Russia remarks, Trump is pushing that.," 8 June 2018
Roberts did not refer to the use of big data in designing election districts, nor the way Russian hackers used computer programs in an effort to influence the 2016 election.

— richard wolf, USA TODAY, "Chief Justice John Roberts to high school graduates (and his daughter): 'Beware the robots'," 7 June 2018
The court documents describe a truly boneheaded attempt to influence witnesses in a criminal lobbying case.

— margaret hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "If Mueller Is Ever Going to Flip Manafort, Now Seems Like the Time," 5 June 2018
Court papers also accuse Person A of making several attempts to influence the witnesses’ testimony in February and later in April.

— Time, "Robert Mueller's Team Accuses Paul Manafort of Trying to Tamper With Witnesses," 4 June 2018
Following attempts by Russia and other hostile entities to influence the 2016 elections, Rubio has repeatedly sounded the alarm about attempts by foreign state actors to infiltrate election systems.

— anthony man, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Federal government OKs Florida’s request for $19.2 million in election security money," 4 June 2018
If those types of activities occurred, there would be potential evidence of a coordinated effort by the league and at least one team to influence Kaepernick’s opportunities to sign.

— michael mccann, SI.com, "The Latest Wrinkle in Colin Kaepernick's Collusion Case: Polling Data?," 24 May 2018
The revelation that Facebook was weaponized by the Russian government in an effort to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election caused an internal crisis.

— kurt wagner, Recode, "Facebook is full of could-be CEOs — but no one ever leaves," 22 May 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