impact

1 of 2

noun

im·​pact ˈim-ˌpakt 

plural impacts

1

a

: the act or force especially of one body striking another

An enormous hole had been made by the impact of the projectile, and the sand and gravel had been flung violently in every direction …

—H. G. Wells

b

: a forceful contact or onset

The bomb exploded on/upon impact (with the ground).

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

felt the impact of the blow

2

: the strong influence of one thing on another : a significant or major effect

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

She expects to make an immediate impact at work.

a study outlining the potential environmental impacts of the construction project

—often used with on

the impact of science on our society

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

Both events negatively impacted her life.

Price increases impact struggling families most.

b

: to strike forcefully

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

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 or upon

The poor economy is impacting on/upon small businesses.

2

: to impinge or make contact especially forcefully

The meteor impacted on a distant moon.

Usage of Impact

Although the verb impact is approximately 200 years older than the noun, some object to it, especially when it is used to mean "to directly affect," as in "changes that will impact us all." This use dates to the first half of the 20th century, making it significantly newer than others. You may wish to avoid it for this reason, or not.

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 of impact

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

The impact of the storm was worsened by clogged waterways in an already flood-prone area, and an apparent lack of understanding of early warnings, Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator for the Philippines Office of Civil Defense told local media. —Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025

Nonetheless, the suits could prove costly and lengthy—potentially having a material impact on the company’s bottom line. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025

Verb

The science specialist university, together with Jabra, studied how voice technology will impact the future of work, and the scientists predicted that by 2028, voice AI will become the default way of working. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025

How travel insurance policies will be impacted by the shutdown is unclear. —Rob Wile, NBC news, 7 Nov. 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

• disparate impact
• high-impact
• impact printer
• low-impact
• non-impact printer

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