AskDefine | Define influence

Dictionary Definition



1 a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc; "used her parents' influence to get the job"
2 causing something without any direct or apparent effort
3 a cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do; "her wishes had a great influence on his thinking"
5 one having power to influence another; "she was the most important influence in my life"; "he was a bad influence on the children"


1 have and exert influence or effect; "The artist's work influenced the young painter"; "She worked on her friends to support the political candidate" [syn: act upon, work]
2 shape or influence; give direction to; "experience often determines ability"; "mold public opinion" [syn: determine, shape, mold, regulate]
3 induce into action by using one's charm; "She charmed him into giving her all his money" [syn: charm, tempt]

User Contributed Dictionary



Old and modern French influence, or from medieval Latin influentia, an astrological term, from influere "to flow into".


  • /ˈɪn.flu.əns/, /"In.flU.@ns/


  1. The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions; the status of being able to dictate the actions or behaviors of an object or person; moral or political power over a person or group; ascendancy.
    I have absolutely no influence over him.
  2. An action exerted by a person or thing with such power on another to cause change.
    I'm not able to exercise influence over him.
  3. A person or thing exerting such power or action.
    He has been a great influence on the voters during the elections.''
  4. An element believed by some to determine someone's character or individual tendencies, caused by the position of the stars and planets at the time of one's birth.
  5. The action of flowing in; influx.
  6. electrostatic induction.


power to affect, control or manipulate
action exerted by a person or thing with power to cause change
person or thing exerting such power or action
(astrology) element determining someone's character or individual tendencies
  • Finnish: vaikutus
  • German: Einfluss
  • Slovene: vpliv
action of flowing in; influx
See: influx
electrostatic induction


  1. To affect by gentle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to persuade or induce.
  2. Exert influence.
  3. In the context of "transitive|obsolete": Cause to flow in or into; infuse; instill.


to exert an influence upon
(intr.) to exert influence



  • lang=fr|/ɛ̃.fly.ɑ̃s/
  • SAMPA: /


  1. Influence.

Extensive Definition

Influence may refer to:
influence in Spanish: Influencia (desambiguación)
influence in French: Influence

Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words

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