Word
influence
Phoneticsin·flu·ence, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪnfɫuəns/
UK/ˈɪnfluːəns/
Definitions
01the power to affect others
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the power to change how someone thinks, feels, or behaves.
n. the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something.
日本語:影響力※
“My older brother had a huge influence on my taste in music.”
“The philosopher's early writings exerted a profound influence on the development of modern political theory across Europe.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'on' or 'over'.
02a person or thing that affects others
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person or thing that has an effect on someone else.
n. a person or thing with the capacity or power to affect others.
日本語:影響※
“She is a good influence on her friends because she works hard.”
“The new CEO proved to be a stabilizing influence during the company's difficult transition period.”
Synonyms
03to affect or sway
B1 · Intermediate
v. to change the way someone thinks or the way something happens.
v. to affect or change how someone or something develops, behaves, or thinks.
日本語:影響する※
“Don't let your friends influence your decision to go to university.”
“Several factors, including climate change and local economic shifts, continue to influence the migration patterns of these birds.”
Usage
This verb is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “influence” in context.
Verb
01. exert influence
“Lobbyists try to exert influence on government policy regarding the environment.”
verb + noun
02. explore influence
“The researchers want to explore influence of diet on mental health.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. considerable influence
“The local priest had considerable influence over the villagers' decisions.”
adj + noun
04. decisive influence
“Her teacher's encouragement had a decisive influence on her choice of career.”
adj + noun
05. direct influence
“The new law will have a direct influence on how small businesses operate.”
adj + noun
06. dominant influence
“For many years, the church was the dominant influence in the community.”
adj + noun
07. external influence
“The judge insisted that the jury must not be affected by any external influence.”
adj + noun
08. important influence
“My grandmother was an important influence during my teenage years.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. influence by
“The artist's work shows a clear influence by the Impressionist movement.”
noun + prep
10. influence development
“Early childhood experiences have a major influence development on a person's character.”
noun + noun
11. influence performance
“The temperature in the office can influence performance levels of the staff.”
noun + noun
12. influence preference
“Social media trends often influence preference for certain fashion brands.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“New research shows that social media creators have enormous influence over their audiences' politics—especially those who don't normally share political content.” “In the months leading up to last year’s presidential election, more than 2,000 Americans, roughly split across partisan lines, were recruited for an experiment: Could an AI model influence their political inclinations?” Etymology
From Middle English influence, from Old French influence (“emanation from the stars affecting one's fate”), from Medieval Latin īnfluentia, from Latin īnfluēns (“flowing in”), present active participle of īnfluō (“flow into”), from in- (“in-”) + fluō (“flow”). Doublet of influenza.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
- 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
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/influence
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0