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influence - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'influence' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Influence [ n.]
- A flowing in or upon; influx.
- 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.
- 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.
- Induction.
2 . Influence [ v. t.]
- 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.

Meaning of 'influence' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . influence [ n]
Meaning (1):
- one having power to influence another
Example in sentence:
  • he was a bad influence on the children;
  • she was the most important influence in my life
Meaning (2):
- a cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do
Example in sentence:
  • her wishes had a great influence on his thinking
Meaning (3):
- the effect of one thing (or person) on another
Example in sentence:
  • the influence of mechanical action
Meaning (4):
- a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
Example in sentence:
  • used her parents' influence to get the job
5 . influence [ v]
Meaning (5):
- shape or influence; give direction to
Example in sentence:
  • experience often determines ability;
  • mold public opinion
Meaning (6):
- induce into action by using one's charm
Example in sentence:
  • She charmed him into giving her all his money
Meaning (7):
- have and exert influence or effect
Example in sentence:
  • She worked on her friends to support the political candidate;
  • The artist's work influenced the young painter

Nearby Words:

infabricated infallibilist infallibility infallible infallibleness infallibly infame infamies infamize infamized

See 'influence' also in:

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