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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Influence: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：impact or power (influence)

influence 🔊

/ˈɪnfluəns/

vt./n.

The ability to cause changes in people or things, like when wind changes a sailboat's course.

Influence illustrated by a confident leader guiding a team meeting in a modern office.

impact or power 🔊

➕

/ˈɪmpækt ɔːr ˈpaʊə(r)/

vt./n.

The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'influere' ('in-' into + 'fluere' to flow). Meaning 'influx' of fluid or immaterial power.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine 'IN (to) FLOW' power into a situation, changing its direction.

📖 Example

The positive reviews online had a huge influence on my decision to buy this new phone. 🔊 The favorable feedback found on the internet played a significant role in shaping my choice to purchase this new mobile device.

🔗 Collocations

under the influence of – affected or controlled by something, especially an authority or substance

sphere of influence – an area or domain over which a person, organization, or state has significant control or impact

exert influence – to apply power or pressure to produce an effect

🔄 Synonyms

impact (n.) – The effect or impression of one thing on another.

sway (n.) – Power to influence or direct.

leverage (n.) – The power to influence a person or situation.

🚫 Antonyms

irrelevance (n.) – The state of being not connected or significant to a matter.

powerlessness (n.) – Lack of ability, influence, or power.

insignificance (n.) – The quality of being too small or unimportant to be worth consideration.

🌱 Derivatives

influential (adj.) – Having great influence or power.

influencer (n.) – A person who has the power to affect the decisions of others, especially on social media.

uninfluential (adj.) – Not having influence or power.

📖 Cultural Story

Etymology: From Latin 'influentia' meaning 'inflow', first used in astrology for the 'flowing in' of ethereal fluid from stars affecting humans. By the 16th century, it shifted to its modern meaning of non-physical power.

Meaning 2：affect or shape (influence)

influence 🔊

/ˈɪnfluəns/

vt./n.

To make someone's thoughts, decisions, or something change.

Influence shown as a teacher shaping a student's painting technique in a sunlit art studio.

affect or shape 🔊

➕

/əˈfekt ɔːr ʃeɪp/

vt./n.

To have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

My first music teacher really influenced my taste in classical music. 🔊 My initial instructor in music profoundly affected and molded my preferences in the genre of classical music.

🔗 Collocations

influence someone's opinion – to affect or alter what someone thinks about a subject

influence a decision – to have an effect on the choice that is made

heavily influenced by – greatly affected or shaped by something

🔄 Synonyms

affect (v.) – To have an effect on; make a difference to.

shape (v.) – To influence the formation or development of something.

guide (v.) – To direct or have an influence on the course of action.

🚫 Antonyms

dissuade (v.) – To persuade someone not to take a particular course of action.

deter (v.) – To discourage someone from doing something by instilling doubt or fear.

resist (v.) – To withstand the action or effect of something.