impact

1 of 2

noun

im·​pact ˈim-ˌpakt How to pronounce impact (audio)
plural impacts
Synonyms of impactnext
1
a
: an impinging or striking especially of one body against another
b
: a forceful contact or onset
also : the impetus communicated in or as if in such a contact
2
: the force of impression of one thing on another : a significant or major effect
the impact of science on our society
a study outlining the potential environmental impacts of the construction project

impact

2 of 2

verb

im·​pact im-ˈpakt How to pronounce impact (audio)
impacted; impacting; impacts

transitive verb

1
a
: to have a direct effect or impact on : impinge on
b
: to strike forcefully
also : to cause to strike forcefully
2
a
: to fix firmly by or as if by packing or wedging
b
: to press together

intransitive verb

1
: to have an impact
—often used with on
2
: to impinge or make contact especially forcefully

Did you know?

Is impact a verb?

You may occasionally run into claims that impact is not a verb, or that it is somehow ill-suited to a role in this part of speech. Not only is that not the case, but the verb form of impact is much older than the noun form. It is possible that the word started attracting more displeasure when it began being widely used in a figurative sense as a transitive verb ("we expect the recession to impact the company"). The word is certainly a verb, although before using it in this manner in writing it is worth considering your audience, and whether members of it are likely to consider this use problematic.

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for impact

impact, collision, shock, concussion mean a forceful, even violent contact between two or more things.

impact may be used to imply contact between two things, at least one of which is impelled toward the other.

the glass shattered on impact with the floor

collision implies the coming together of two or more things with such force that both or all are damaged or their progress is severely impeded.

the collision damaged the vehicle

shock often denotes the effect produced by a collision and carries the suggestion of something that strikes or hits with force.

the shock of falling rocks

concussion when not in technical use, often suggests the shattering, disrupting, or weakening effects of a collision, explosion, or blow.

bystanders felt the concussion of the blast

Examples of impact in a Sentence

Noun No one could have survived such an impact. These warnings have been heard so often that they have lost their impact. The book had a huge impact when it first came out. We need to be concerned about the environmental impacts of all this construction. She expects to make an immediate impact at work. Verb No one is sure how these changes will impact our relations with other countries. Both events negatively impacted her life. The tax increase will impact low-income families the most. The poor economy is impacting on small businesses. A crater was formed at the point where the meteor impacted the planet's surface.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Imagine the impact: stricter policies on immigrant communities, weakened environmental laws, and an atmosphere that discourages the diversity California is known for. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024 The company highlighted the impact of its Reorganization plan, which resulted in a significant reduction in corporate personnel and functions to promote efficiency and local market accountability. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
Let your imagination lead the way, and your dialogue will impact people who share your beliefs. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024 The radio signals from nearby homes can impact the Green Bank Observatory. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for impact 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin impactus, past participle of impingere to push against — more at impinge

First Known Use

Noun

1781, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1601, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of impact was in 1601

Phrases Containing impact

Dictionary Entries Near impact

imp

impact

impact bomb

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Impact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impact. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

impact

1 of 2 verb
im·​pact im-ˈpakt How to pronounce impact (audio)
1
: to have a strong effect on
volcanic ash impacted weather conditions worldwide
2
: to hit or cause to hit with force

impact

2 of 2 noun
im·​pact ˈim-ˌpakt How to pronounce impact (audio)
1
: a striking together of two bodies : collision
2
: a forceful effect
the impact of pollution on the environment

More from Merriam-Webster on impact

Nglish: Translation of impact for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of impact for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about impact

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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