the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others: He used family influence to get the contract.
the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others: Her mother's influence made her stay.
a person or thing that exerts influence: He is an influence for the good.
Astrology.
the radiation of an ethereal fluid from the stars, regarded as affecting human actions and destinies.
the exercise of occult power by the stars, or such power as exercised.
the exercise of similar power by human beings.
Obsolete. influx.
verb (used with object),in·flu·enced,in·flu·enc·ing.
to exercise influence on; affect; sway: to influence a person.
to move or impel (a person) to some action: Outside factors influenced her to resign.
Idioms for influence
under the influence, Law. less than drunk but with one's nervous system impaired: He was driving while under the influence.Also under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
Origin of influence
1325–75; Middle English <Medieval Latin influentia stellar emanation, equivalent to Latin influent- (see influent) + -ia-y3; see -ence
in·flu·ence·a·ble,adjectivein·flu·enc·er,nouncoun·ter·in·flu·ence,noun,verb (used with object),coun·ter·in·flu·enced,coun·ter·in·flu·enc·ing.in·ter·in·flu·ence,verb,in·ter·in·flu·enced,in·ter·in·flu·enc·ing.
non·in·flu·ence,nounout·in·flu·ence,verb (used with object),out·in·flu·enced,out·in·flu·enc·ing.o·ver·in·flu·ence,verb (used with object),o·ver·in·flu·enced,o·ver·in·flu·enc·ing.pre·in·flu·ence,nounre·in·flu·ence,verb (used with object),re·in·flu·enced,re·in·flu·enc·ing.su·per·in·flu·ence,noun,verb (used with object),su·per·in·flu·enced,su·per·in·flu·enc·ing.un·in·flu·enced,adjectiveun·in·flu·enc·ing,adjective
He’s unaware of who else is on the panel and how much influence the panels will have on the process.
Oceanside Is Rethinking Its Police Chief Hiring Process Following Community Concerns|Kayla Jimenez|September 14, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Under Huang, Nvidia has risen rapidly up the ranks of technology companies in market value and influence.
Nvidia is buying SoftBank’s Arm chip division in biggest semiconductor deal ever|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 14, 2020|Fortune
The extensive observations allowed them to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of the disk torn apart by the influences of the three stars.
A strange dusty disk could hide a planet betwixt three stars|Paola Rosa-Aquino|September 11, 2020|Popular Science
Given how much influence steering winds have over hurricane speed and trajectory, climate change may influence stalling by reshaping large-scale wind patterns.
Slow, meandering hurricanes are often more dangerous—and they’re getting more common|Greta Moran|September 9, 2020|Popular Science
Taken together, the government has substantial influence on medical innovation.
Times of strife can lead to medical innovation—when governments are willing|By Jeffrey Clemens/The Conversation|September 9, 2020|Popular Science
What sets him apart from so many of his contemporaries was his rare immunity from the influence of prevailing ideas.
The Catholic Philosopher Who Took on Hitler|John Henry Crosby|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"He brought Ray Charles to the mix as an influence on rock & roll," E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt once raved.
Joe Cocker's Deep Live Cuts|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These women interred the bodies of saints on their own properties and occasionally managed to influence papal politics.
First Anglican Woman Bishop A Return to Christian Roots|Candida Moss|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And if she just gets stuck there, her influence, however great among the Democratic base, will never grow outside of it.
The Most Powerful Democrat in America|Michael Tomasky|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Telltale can give the real Game of Thrones experience, but one that you can influence.
‘Game of Thrones’ Interactive FanFiction: Whoops, My Friend Was Speared in the Throat|Alec Kubas-Meyer|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Do you fancy he would get23 another call from her, or from her friends through her influence?
The Natural Cure of Consumption, Constipation, Bright's Disease, Neuralgia, Rheumatism,|Charles Edward Page
The influence of this work on the public mind was such as might have been anticipated.
The Martyrs of Science, or, The lives of Galileo, Tycho Brahe, and Kepler|David Brewster
The influence of his deep acquaintance with French is shown in the position of the adverb in "I saw again somebody in the porch."
Books and Persons|Arnold Bennett
Such mitigation of its influence as may be found is chiefly due to voluntary charitable agency.
The Criminal|Havelock Ellis
His influence also became more powerfully felt in the metropolis than before.