Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for influence. Search instead for anflugantenne.
Definitions
Trivia Time
The earliest known use of influence in English referred to a flowing power coming from what?

influence

[in-floo-uhns] / ˈɪn flu əns /




Usage

What are other ways to say influence? Influence is a personal and unofficial power derived from deference of others to one's character, ability, or station; it may be exerted unconsciously or may operate through persuasion: to have influence over one's friends. Authority is a power or right, usually because of rank or office, to issue commands and to punish for violations: to have authority over subordinates. Control is either power or influence applied to the complete and successful direction or manipulation of persons or things: to be in control of a project. 

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

El Niño can influence weather across much of the planet by changing the movement of heat and moisture through the atmosphere.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 15, 2026

But when Ponga threw a wayward pass into touch minutes later when well placed, it left little doubt as to whom had been able to exert more influence on the outcome.

From BBC ● Nov. 15, 2026

After identifying the molecular mechanism, Wu investigated whether changing the amount of arginine in an animal's diet could influence disease outcomes.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 15, 2026

The meeting of the Quad -- a grouping broadly aimed at counterbalancing China's regional influence -- would come days before a historic sit-down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin in Shenzhen.

From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2026

The Aristotelian wall was crumbling, thanks to the influence of the Muslims and the Hindus, and by the 1400s even the staunchest European supporters of Aristotelianism had their doubts.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Using mathematical modeling, scientists investigated how vitamin C influences chemical reactions in the digestive system that have been linked to cancer risk.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 15, 2026

It keeps happening with a lot of my influences.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2026

As the Pacific warms, hot air rising off it generates atmospheric energy that influences weather as far away as North America.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026

If fructose influences the connections between cancer cells in a similar way, the discovery could have implications beyond ovarian cancer.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 12, 2026

Among other factors relevant to answering Yali’s question, cultural factors and influences of individual people loom large.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

She has a history of financial mismanagement and her wasteful spending influenced his decision.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 13, 2026

The strength of the arriving storm could be influenced by warmer ocean waters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2026

Sources have stressed that the choice of location was not influenced not being the debate around Carrick's future - it just happens to now be the most important item for discussion.

From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2026

The researchers next wanted to determine whether it actually influenced how animals learned to prefer different flavors.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2026

After that brief look at Polynesia’s varying environments, let’s now see how that variation influenced Polynesian societies.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Nvidia’s outlay on influencing Washington remains below the amounts shelled out by Washington’s biggest lobbying organizations, as well as other tech giants.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2026

Still, "effective altruism is now a movement large enough that it's actually really influencing the world, and that's getting noticed," he said.

From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2026

Researchers could also develop materials capable of controlling magnetic behavior, manipulating light, or influencing chemical reactions with greater precision.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026

Changing food prices are especially important in influencing consumers’ expectations surrounding inflation, especially for lower-income households, accounting for around 20% of expenditure in Eurostat’s consumption basket.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

Related to these factors affecting diffusion within continents is a third set of factors influencing diffusion between continents, which may also help build up a local pool of domesticates and technology.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond


Vocabulary lists containing influence

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com