INFLUENCE - Definition & Meaning for Kids
Meaning 1
Part of speech: Verb
have and exert influence or effect
Example: The artist's work influenced the young painter; She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
Categories: Affect, Impact, Bear upon, Bear on, Touch on, Touch
Meaning 2
Part of speech: Noun
causing something without any direct or apparent effort
Categories: Causing, Causation
Meaning 3
Part of speech: Noun
a cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do
Example: her wishes had a great influence on his thinking
Categories: Determinant, Determiner, Determinative, Determining factor, Causal factor
Meaning 4
Part of speech: Noun
the effect of one thing (or person) on another
Example: the influence of mechanical action
Categories: Consequence, Effect, Outcome, Result, Event, Issue, Upshot
Meaning 5
Part of speech: Noun
one having power to influence another
Example: she was the most important influence in my life; he was a bad influence on the children
Categories: Power, Force
Synonyms
🌱 Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "influence" comes from Latin īnfluēns. It started in Medieval Latin īnfluentia. Then it appeared in Old French influence. Later, people used it in Middle English influence.
🔗 Related Words
influenza – A related word in the same word family.
🧩 Fun Fact
Words that pass through many languages often accumulate layers of meaning from each culture.