'Influence' definitions:
Definition of 'influence'
(from WordNet)
noun
A power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc; "used her parents' influence to get the job"
noun
Causing something without any direct or apparent effort
noun
A cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do; "her wishes had a great influence on his thinking"
noun
The effect of one thing (or person) on another; "the influence of mechanical action"
noun
One having power to influence another; "she was the most important influence in my life"; "he was a bad influence on the children"
verb
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: influence, act upon, work]
verb
Shape or influence; give direction to; "experience often determines ability"; "mold public opinion" [syn: determine, shape, mold, influence, regulate]
verb
Definition of 'Influence'
From: GCIDE
- Influence \In"flu*ence\ ([i^]n"fl[-u]*ens), n. [F. influence, fr. L. influens, -entis, p. pr. See Influent, and cf. Influenza.]
- 1. A flowing in or upon; influx. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- God hath his influence into the very essence of all things. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Hence, in general, the bringing about of an effect, physical or moral, by a gradual process; controlling power quietly exerted; agency, force, or tendency of any kind which affects, modifies, or sways; as, the influence 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. [1913 Webster]
- Astrologers call the evil influences of the stars, evil aspects. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
- Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? --Job xxxviii. 31. [1913 Webster]
- She said : "Ah, dearest lord! what evil star On you hath frown'd, and poured, his influence bad?" --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- Such influence hath your excellency. --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]
- 4. (Elec.) Induction.
- Syn: Control; persuasion; ascendency; sway; power; authority; supremacy; mastery; management; restraint; character; reputation; prestige. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Influence'
From: GCIDE
- Influence \In"flu*ence\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Influenced ([i^]n"fl[-u]*enst); p. pr. & vb. n. Influencing ([i^]n"fl[-u]*en*s[i^]ng).] 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 affect; to move; to persuade; to induce. [1913 Webster]
- These experiments 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. [1913 Webster]
- This standing revelation . . . is sufficient to influence their faith and practice, if they attend. --Attebury. [1913 Webster]
- The principle which influenced their obedience has lost its efficacy. --Rogers. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'influence'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- access,
- acme,
- act on,
- act upon,
- actuation,
- advance,
- affect,
- alter,
- amperage,
- animation,
- armipotence,
- ascendancy,
- authority,
- authorization,
- bad influence,
- be-all and end-all,
- beef,
- behind-the-scenes influence,
- bend,
- bias,
- big wheel,
- black power,
- blue ribbon,
- bring,
- brute force,
- carry,
- championship,
- change,
- charge,
- charisma,
- clout,
- cogence,
- cogency,
- color,
- command,
- compulsion,
- concentrate on,
- conduce to,
- connections,
- consequence,
- contribute to,
- control,
- court,
- credit,
- decide,
- determine,
- devices,
- dint,
- direction,
- directorship,
- dispose,
- distort,
- dominance,
- domination,
- dominion,
- drag,
- drive,
- duress,
- effect,
- effectiveness,
- effectuality,
- eminence,
- eminence grise,
- energy,
- engage,
- enlist,
- expedients,
- favor,
- favoritism,
- first place,
- first prize,
- five-percenter,
- flower power,
- focus on,
- force,
- force majeure,
- forcefulness,
- forward,
- friend at court,
- full blast,
- full force,
- get,
- get to do,
- good influence,
- gray eminence,
- greatness,
- headship,
- heavyweight,
- hegemony,
- height,
- hidden hand,
- highest,
- hold,
- impact,
- imperium,
- importance,
- impress,
- impress upon,
- in,
- incline,
- induce,
- influence peddler,
- influencer,
- influentialness,
- ingroup,
- inner-direction,
- inspire,
- interest in,
- jaundice,
- jurisdiction,
- key,
- kingmaker,
- kingship,
- lead,
- lead to,
- leadership,
- leverage,
- lobby,
- lobbyist,
- lords of creation,
- lordship,
- lure,
- machination,
- main force,
- main strength,
- man of influence,
- mana,
- management,
- maneuvering,
- maneuvers,
- manipulate,
- manipulation,
- manipulator,
- mastership,
- mastery,
- maximum,
- might,
- might and main,
- mightiness,
- modify,
- moment,
- most,
- motivate,
- motivation,
- move,
- moving,
- moxie,
- muscle power,
- ne plus ultra,
- new high,
- open sesame,
- operate on,
- other-direction,
- palms,
- paramountcy,
- persuade,
- pizzazz,
- political influence,
- poop,
- potence,
- potency,
- potentiality,
- power,
- power pack,
- power structure,
- power struggle,
- powerfulness,
- powers that be,
- precedence,
- predispose,
- predominance,
- prejudice,
- prejudice against,
- prejudice the issue,
- prepossess,
- prepotency,
- presidency,
- pressure,
- pressure group,
- prestige,
- primacy,
- priority,
- procure,
- productiveness,
- productivity,
- prominence,
- prompt,
- prompting,
- puissance,
- pull,
- punch,
- push,
- rank,
- Rasputin,
- record,
- redound to,
- rule,
- say,
- seniority,
- sinew,
- sinister influence,
- soften up,
- sovereignty,
- special interests,
- special-interest group,
- stature,
- steam,
- stimulation,
- strength,
- strike,
- strong arm,
- subserve,
- superiority,
- superpower,
- supremacy,
- Svengali,
- sway,
- tactical maneuvers,
- tactics,
- tempt,
- the Establishment,
- tinge,
- tone,
- top spot,
- touch,
- treat,
- turn the scale,
- twist,
- validity,
- vehemence,
- very important person,
- vigor,
- vim,
- VIP,
- virility,
- virtue,
- virulence,
- vitality,
- warp,
- wattage,
- wear down,
- weigh with,
- weight,
- weightiness,
- wheeler-dealer,
- wire-puller,
- wire-pulling,
- work,
- work on,
- zenith