Definitions
01a strong effect
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. the powerful effect that something has on a person, situation, or place.
n. the significant or powerful influence or effect of an action, event, or person on another entity.
“The new recycling program had a positive impact on the local environment.”
“Economists are still assessing the long-term impact of the trade agreement on small-scale manufacturing sectors across the region.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'on' when functioning as a noun.
Pitfall
The new law will impact on the economy.
The new law will impact the economy.
When using 'impact' as a verb, do not use the preposition 'on'. Use 'on' only when 'impact' is a noun.
Teaching tip
While common in business and academic contexts, some traditionalists prefer 'affect' or 'influence' over the verb form of 'impact'.
Synonyms
02a physical collision
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of one object hitting another with great force.
n. the physical striking of one body against another; a high-force collision.
“The car was built to protect the passengers in the event of an impact.”
“The meteor's impact created a crater several miles wide, sending debris high into the atmosphere.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun to describe the force itself.
03to affect something
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
v. to have a strong effect on someone or something.
v. to have a significant or strong influence or effect on a situation or person.
“The budget cuts will heavily impact the school's music program.”
“The rising cost of raw materials is expected to negatively impact the company's profit margins for the third quarter.”
Usage
Transitive verb; does not take the preposition 'on'.
04to be stuck or wedged
C1 · Advanced Medicine Technical
v. to be pushed or wedged firmly into something so it cannot move.
v. to be firmly packed or wedged into a space; frequently used in medical contexts regarding teeth or blockages.
“The dentist said my wisdom tooth is impacted and needs to be removed.”
“The surgeon identified an impacted gallstone that was causing significant inflammation in the surrounding tissue.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice or as a past participle adjective.
Teaching tip
In medicine, this most commonly refers to wisdom teeth that cannot grow in properly.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “impact” in context.
Verb
01. assess impact
“Scientists are trying to assess the impact of climate change.”
verb + noun
02. have impact
“Does social media have a positive impact on young people?”
verb + noun
03. impact on
“The impact on the economy was much worse than expected.”
noun + prep
04. minimize impact
“The company took steps to minimize the impact of the budget cuts.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. environmental impact
“We must consider the environmental impact of new construction projects.”
adj + noun
06. lasting impact
“The teacher's words had a lasting impact on her students.”
adj + noun
07. negative impact
“Pollution has a direct negative impact on public health.”
adj + noun
08. significant impact
“The new law had a significant impact on local businesses.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. point of impact
“The car was badly damaged at the point of impact.”
noun + prep + noun
10. cushion the impact
“The insurance policy was designed to cushion the impact of financial loss.”
11. make a huge impact
“Her speech made a huge impact on the audience.”
12. soften the impact of
“Government subsidies helped to soften the impact of rising fuel prices.”
Real-World Examples
“Federal forecasters say it could become the biggest yet, far outpacing any in recorded history and ultimately impacting millions of people.” “It will be useful to communities and organisations seeking to attribute legal responsibility for climate harms to governments and fossil fuel companies, as well as to insurers and decision-makers assessing climate impacts.” “The Carbon Impacts Tracer can be used to estimate climate impact from emissions across eight different factors, including lost food production.” Etymology
Attested since the 17th century, from Latin impāctus, the past participle of impingere, to drive against.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/impact
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0