How to Use "Influence" with Example Sentences

influence (n): the power to change or affect someone or something

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Used with adjectives:

"He has a strong influence on his son."
(strong, big, great, significant, tremendous, powerful, profound, major, calming)

"She has had growing influence on me."
(growing, increasing)

"My teacher had a lasting influence on my life."
(lasting, positive)

"Alcohol had a destructive influence on his marriage."
(destructive, negative)

"Their actions had a direct influence on his life."
(direct, indirect)

"The religious group avoided all outside influences."
(outside, external, worldly, secular)

Used with verbs:

"He has a calming influence on everyone."
(has)

"Her position gave her influence over everyone."
(gave)

"He used his influence to find her a job at his company."
(used, asserted, exercised, exerted)

"The wealthy people extended their influences throughout the city."
(extended, increased, expanded)

"He tried to escape the influence of his father."
(escape, avoid, resist)

"His political influence was growing."
(be + growing, be + waning, be + weakening)

Used with prepositions:

"He was under the influence of drugs."
(under)

"He had no influence from the outside."
(from)

"She had a major influence on his decision."
(on)

"I have absolutely no influence over him."
(over)

"He used his influence with the police."
(with)

"She has a lot of influence in her company."
(in)

influence (v): to have an effect on someone or something

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Used with adverbs:

"She was profoundly influenced by her pastor."
(profoundly, deeply, greatly, powerfully, dramatically, considerably)

"His attitude was highly influenced by his mother."
(highly, mainly, primarily, largely)

"He was clearly influenced by money."
(clearly, obviously, undoubtedly, directly, indirectly, increasingly)

Used with verbs:

"We did not try to influence his plans."
(try, want, attempt, seek)

"Nothing seems to influence her actions."
(seems to, appears to, could)

Used with prepositions:

"Her friends tried to influence her into smoking."
(into)

Used with nouns:

"Nothing could influence his decision."
(decision, behavior, attitude, choice, direction, thinking, performance)

"They tried to influence the outcome."
(outcome, situation, voters)