ADJ

big, considerable, enormous, great, significant
growing
chief, dominant, major, overwhelming
powerful, profound, strong
He had a profound influence on modern poets
important
crucial, decisive
undue (law)
The court found that the bank exerted undue influence over Mrs Black in getting her to sign the contract
beneficial, positive
adverse, corrupting, destructive, disruptive, evil, negative
stabilizing, steadying
calming, restraining
civilizing
direct
pervasive, wide
external, outside
The religious community wished to be independent of outside influence
foreign
cultural, economic, genetic, political

VERB + INFLUENCE

have
give sb
Her wealth gave her influence over affairs of state
exercise, exert, use, wield
Can you use your influence with the director to get me a part in the film? Drug cartels wielded enormous influence in the city
extend
The unions have been able to extend their influence over all industries
be under
The court was told that he was under the influence of alcohol when he committed the offence
come/fall under
She came under the influence of Sartre at this period
be independent of
show
Spanish architecture shows Moorish influence
attribute sth to
Much of his writing can be attributed to the influence of Freud

INFLUENCE + VERB

extend
Their influence extended as far as China

PREP

under the ~
The town grew under the influence of colonialism
~ from
There was no influence from outside
~ in
She has a certain amount of influence in the way things are organized
~ on/upon
They were a major influence upon the development of the sport
~ over
I have absolutely no influence over him
~ with
Queen Isabella was urged to use her influence with the French monarch

PHRASES

a sphere of influence
Rome's sphere of influence extended across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East
bring your influence to bear on sb/sth
The king tried to bring his influence to bear on (= tried to influence) the parliament
under the influence (of alcohol/drink)
He was arrested for driving under the influence

ADJ

big, considerable, great, significant
dominant, major, overwhelming
powerful, profound, strong
important
early
Who were your early influences (= influences at the start of your career) ?
formative
The massive intellect of his mother had been a formative influence from his earliest years
diverse
He is a writer of Indian descent and draws upon diverse cultural influences
outside
Parents often seek to shelter their children from outside influences
good
adverse, bad, corrupting, destructive, disruptive, harmful, negative
stabilizing, steadying
calming, restraining
civilizing
environmental, genetic
artistic, cultural, musical

VERB + INFLUENCE

be, represent
The legacy of Ancient Rome represented the overwhelming influence on Romanesque architecture
have
The band had many influences
be exposed to
a study of children exposed to different cultural influences
draw from/on/upon

INFLUENCE + VERB

be at work
There were a number of influences at work in Gaudi's architecture

PREP

~ on
She's by far the biggest influence on my writing