influence Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
    • used her parents' influence to get the job
  2. noun causing something without any direct or apparent effort
  3. noun a cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do
    • her wishes had a great influence on his thinking
  4. noun the effect of one thing (or person) on another
    • the influence of mechanical action
  5. noun one having power to influence another
    • she was the most important influence in my life
    • he was a bad influence on the children
  6. verb have and exert influence or effect
    work; act upon.
    • The artist's work influenced the young painter
    • She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
  7. verb shape or influence; give direction to
    shape; regulate; mold; determine.
    • experience often determines ability
    • mold public opinion
  8. verb induce into action by using one's charm
    charm; tempt.
    • She charmed him into giving her all his money

WordNet

In"flu*ence noun
Etymology
F. influence, fr. L. influens, -entis, p.pr. See Influent, and cf. Influenza.
Definitions
  1. A flowing in or upon; influx. Obs.
    God hath his influence into the very essence of all things. Hooker.
  2. Hence, in general, the bringing about of an effect, phusical or moral, by a gradual process; controlling power quietly exerted; agency, force, or tendency of any kind which the sun exerts on animal and vegetable life; the influence of education on the mind; the influence, according to astrologers,of the stars over affairs.
    Astrologers call the evil influences of the stars,evil aspects. Bacon.
    Cantsthou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion ? Job xxxviii. 31.
    She said : Ah,dearest lord ! what evil star On you hath frown'd,and poured, his influence bad ?" Spenser.
  3. Power or authority arising from elevated station, excelence of character or intellect, wealth, etc.; reputation; acknowledged ascendency; as, he is a man of influence in the community.
    Such influence hath your excellency. Sir P. Sidney.
  4. (Elec.) Induction. Syn. -- Control; persuasion; ascendency; sway; power; authority; supremacy; mastery; management; restraint; character; reputation; prestige.
In"flu*ence transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Influenced ; present participle & verbal noun Influencing
Definitions
  1. To control or move by power, physical or moral; to affect by gentle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to move; to persuade; to induce.
    Theseexperiments succeed after the same manner in vacuo as in the open air,and therefore are not influenced by the weight or pressure of the atmosphere. Sir I. Newton.
    This standing revelation . . . is sufficient to influence their faith and practice, if they attend. Attebury.
    The principle which influenced their obedience has lost its efficacy. Rogers.

Webster 1913