influential

influential — adjective

1. having the power or ability to shape what people think or do, or to change the w

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

having the power or ability to shape what people think or do, or to change the way events develop — for example, an influential politician who shifts public opinion, or a book whose ideas change how a generation sees the world.

Example

Baraka is one of the most influential poets in modern Japanese literature.

one of the most influential + [plural noun] in [field]

Professor Élise's work on ocean acidification has been highly influential among marine biologists.

highly influential among [group]

Common collocations
  • highly influential
  • politically influential
  • socially influential
  • influential figure / person / voice / member / leader
  • influential writer / thinker / critic / politician
  • influential in something
  • become / remain / prove influential
Synonyms
  • powerful

    broader than 'influential'; can refer to physical strength, force, or control, not just the ability to shape opinions

  • authoritative

    implies recognised expertise that others trust and follow, often in academic or professional contexts

  • significant

    focuses on importance or meaning rather than the direct shaping of people's actions or beliefs

Antonyms
  • unimportant

    having no significance or effect on others

  • powerless

    lacking any ability to affect outcomes or decisions

Grammar Patterns

be influential

become / remain / prove influential

influential + noun

influential in + noun / verb-ing

Usage Note

Frequently used with intensifiers such as 'highly', 'very', or 'most'; also common in the superlative form ('the most influential').

Common Mistakes

His speech was very influence.
His speech was very influential.
'influential' is the adjective form; 'influence' is a noun or verb, not an adjective.
She is an influence person in the community.
She is an influential person in the community.
use the adjective 'influential' before a noun, not the noun 'influence'.

influential — noun

Word family

  • influence
    nounB1
  • influence
    verbB2
  • influenced
    adjectiveB2
  • influencer
    nounB2
  • uninfluential
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe someone or something that stands out or carries weight, but they differ in what kind of weight. 'Powerful' is the broadest — it can refer to physical strength, political control, or economic might, whereas 'influential' specifically describes the ability to shape people's thinking or decisions. 'Authoritative' adds the nuance of recognised expertise: an authoritative source is trusted because of its knowledge, not just its power. 'Significant' focuses on importance or meaning (a significant discovery) rather than direct impact on people's behaviour. 'Prominent' emphasises visibility and fame — a prominent figure is widely known, but may or may not actually shape outcomes. For example: a prominent celebrity may attract attention but have little influence on policy, whereas an influential adviser works behind the scenes to shift decisions.

powerful ↗authoritative ↗significant ↗prominent ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • one of the most influential
  • become influential
  • remain influential
  • prove influential

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinMedieval LatinFrenchEnglish

Derived from the noun 'influence', which comes from Latin 'influentia' (a flowing in), from 'influere' (in- 'in' + fluere 'to flow'). The original sense was astrological: the supposed flowing of power from the stars into human affairs. Over time it broadened to any indirect power shaping events or people. The adjective 'influential' was formed by adding the suffix '-ial' and entered English in the mid-17th century.