influence
influence
/ˈɪnfluəns/
1 uncountable, countable the effect that somebody/something has on the way a person thinks or behaves or on the way that something works or develops His early work shows the influence of Cézanne and Matisse.
influence on somebody/something
He had considerable influence on younger sculptors.
Peer group members can exert a strong influence on each other's activities.
Such media pressure exercises influence on policymakers.
influence of somebody/something on somebody/something
the influence of the climate on agricultural production
What exactly is the influence of social media on children?
The religious community wished to be independent of outside influence.
Collocations
adjective
verb + influence
influence + verb
preposition
under the influence
influence from
influence in…
phrases
a sphere of influence
bring your influence to bear on somebody/something
under the influence…
2 uncountable the power that somebody/something has to make somebody/something behave in a particular way He worked his way into a position of power and influence in the city.
influence over somebody/something
Her parents no longer have any real influence over her.
It was claimed that lobbyists had undue influence on the prime minister.
influence with somebody
She could probably exert her influence with the manager and get you a job.
She needs to use her influence with her party colleagues.
under the influence of somebody/something
He committed the crime under the influence of drugs.
The country is beginning to expand its sphere of influence.
3 countable a person or thing that affects the way a person behaves and thinks She draws on her diverse cultural influences to express herself.
His first music teacher was a major influence in his life.
There seem to be several influences at work in (= affecting) his writing.
influence on somebody/something
Those friends are a bad influence on her.
Collocations
adjective
verb + influence
influence + verb
be at work
affect something
shape something…
preposition
influence on
Idioms
e.g.
influence
/ˈɪnfluəns/
1 to have an effect on the way that somebody behaves or thinks, especially by giving them an example to follow
influence somebody/something
His writings have influenced the lives of millions.
Her writing was strongly influenced by her Catholic upbringing.
His film is heavily influenced by other film-makers.
Don't let me influence you either way.
Do bird-watchers influence the behaviour of the birds they are watching?
I do not wish to influence your decision one way or the other.
influence how, whether, etc…
The wording of questions can influence how people answer.
influence somebody to do something
She was influenced to take up voluntary work by her teacher.
influence somebody in something
Her parents tried to influence her in her choice of university.
Collocations
adverb
verb + influence
preposition
in
phrases
be easily influenced
2 to have an effect on a particular situation and the way that it develops
influence something
A number of social factors influence life expectancy.
The local climate is influenced by the Gulf Stream.
Many factors can influence the taste of wine.
Minor party candidates can influence the outcome of elections.
They are a campaign group that seeks to influence government policy on health.
influence how, whether, etc… The speed at which you eat strongly influences how much you want to eat.
e.g.
Word Origin
late Middle English: from Old French, or from medieval Latin influentia ‘inflow’, from Latin influere, from in- ‘into’ + fluere ‘to flow’. The word originally had the general sense ‘an influx, flowing matter’, also specifically (in astrology) ‘the flowing in of ethereal fluid (affecting human destiny)’. The current sense was established in Scholastic Latin by the 13th cent., but not recorded in English until the late 16th cent.