Influence is the power to have an important effect on someone or something. If someone influences someone else, they are changing a person or thing in an indirect but important way. Learn the meaning, pronunciation, and examples of the word influence as a noun and a verb. Find out the difference between influence and effect, and explore related terms and idioms. Influence is the capacity to impact how others think or behave. This is a basic social process whereby some people are able to obtain the respect, trust and attention required to change the minds of others. Learn the meaning and usage of the word influence , as a noun and a verb, in different contexts and domains. Find out the origin, history, and related terms of influence , as well as sample sentences and idioms.