(influences, influencing, influenced)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Influence is the power to make other people agree with your opinions or do what you want.
He denies exerting any political influence over them...
The government should continue to use its influence for the release of all hostages.
N-UNCOUNT: oft N over n
2.
If you influence someone, you use your power to make them agree with you or do what you want.
He is trying to improperly influence a witness...
My dad influenced me to do electronics.
VERB: V n, V n to-inf
3.
To have an influence on people or situations means to affect what they do or what happens.
Van Gogh had a major influence on the development of modern painting...
N-COUNT: usu with supp
4.
If someone or something influences a person or situation, they have an effect on that person's behaviour or that situation.
We became the best of friends and he influenced me deeply...
They still influence what's played on the radio.
VERB: V n, V wh
5.
Someone or something that is a good or bad influence on people has a good or bad effect on them.
I thought Sue would be a good influence on you...
N-COUNT: usu sing, usu adj N, oft N on n
6.
If you are under the influence of someone or something, you are being affected or controlled by them.
He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
PHRASE: PHR n, usu v-link PHR, PHR after v