im·pact ( m p kt )n.1. The striking of one body against another; collision. See Synonyms at collision. 2. The force or impetus transmitted by a collision. 3. The effect or impression of one thing on another: still gauging the impact of automation on the lives of factory workers. 4. The power of making a strong, immediate impression: a speech that lacked impact. v. (m-pkt) im·pact·ed, im·pact·ing, im·pacts v.tr.1. To pack firmly together. 2. To strike forcefully: meteorites impacting the lunar surface. 3. Usage Problem To have an effect or impact on: "No region ... has been more impacted by emerging demographic and economic trends" Joel Kotkin. v.intr. Usage Problem To have an effect or impact.
[From Latin imp ctus, past participle of impingere, to push against; see impinge.]
im·paction n. Usage Note: The use of impact as a verb meaning "to have an effect" often has a big impact on readers. Eighty-four percent of the Usage Panel disapproves of the construction to impact on, as in the phrase social pathologies, common to the inner city, that impact heavily on such a community; fully 95 percent disapproves of the use of impact as a transitive verb in the sentence Companies have used disposable techniques that have a potential for impacting our health.·It is unclear why this usage provokes such a strong response, but it cannot be because of novelty. Impact has been used as a verb since 1601, when it meant "to fix or pack in," and its modern, figurative use dates from 1935. It may be that its frequent appearance in the jargon-riddled remarks of politicians, military officials, and financial analysts continues to make people suspicious. Nevertheless, the verbal use of impact has become so common in the working language of corporations and institutions that many speakers have begun to regard it as standard. It seems likely, then, that the verb will eventually become as unobjectionable as contact is now, since it will no longer betray any particular pretentiousness on the part of those who use it. See Usage Note at contact. |
impact Noun 1. the effect or impression made by something 2. the act of one object striking another; collision 3. the force of a collision Verb 1. to press firmly against or into 2. impact on to have an effect on [Latin impactus pushed against] impaction n
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. |  impact - the striking of one body against anotherblow, bump - an impact (as from a collision); "the bump threw him off the bicycle" slam - a forceful impact that makes a loud noise impinging, striking, contact - the physical coming together of two or more things; "contact with the pier scraped paint from the hull" | | 2. | impact - a forceful consequence; a strong effect; "the book had an important impact on my thinking"; "the book packs a wallop"consequence, effect, result, upshot, outcome, event, issue - a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decision had depressing consequences for business"; "he acted very wise after the event" | | 3. | impact - influencing strongly; "they resented the impingement of American values on European culture"influence - causing something without any direct or apparent effort | | 4. | impact - the violent interaction of individuals or groups entering into combat; "the armies met in the shock of battle"fighting, combat, fight, scrap - the act of fighting; any contest or struggle; "a fight broke out at the hockey game"; "there was fighting in the streets"; "the unhappy couple got into a terrible scrap" | | Verb | 1. | impact - press or wedge together; pack togetherwedge, squeeze, force - squeeze like a wedge into a tight space; "I squeezed myself into the corner" | | 2. |  impact - have an effect upon; "Will the new rules affect me?"alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" strike a blow - affect adversely; "The court ruling struck a blow at the old segregation laws" repercuss - cause repercussions; have an unwanted effect tell on - produce an effect or strain on somebody; "Each step told on his tired legs" redound - have an effect for good or ill; "Her efforts will redound to the general good" stimulate, excite - act as a stimulant; "The book stimulated her imagination"; "This play stimulates" process, treat - subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition; "process cheese"; "process hair"; "treat the water so it can be drunk"; "treat the lawn with chemicals" ; "treat an oil spill" tinge, color, colour, distort - affect as in thought or feeling; "My personal feelings color my judgment in this case"; "The sadness tinged his life" hit, strike - affect or afflict suddenly, usually adversely; "We were hit by really bad weather"; "He was stricken with cancer when he was still a teenager"; "The earthquake struck at midnight" subject - cause to experience or suffer or make liable or vulnerable to; "He subjected me to his awful poetry"; "The sergeant subjected the new recruits to many drills"; "People in Chernobyl were subjected to radiation" act upon, influence, work - have and exert influence or effect; "The artist's work influenced the young painter"; "She worked on her friends to support the political candidate" slam-dunk - make a forceful move against; "the electronic travel market is slam-dunking traditional travel agencies" |
impact noun 2. collision, force, contact, shock, crash, knock, stroke, smash, bump, thump, jolt  Translations
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