DictionaryAI

impact

IM-pakt/ˈɪmpækt/
As a verbim-PAKT

Pluralimpacts

Verbimpacts, impacting, impacted

7 meanings of impact

Practice

  1. 1
    strong effectnounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
    A strong or significant influence or effect that something has on a person, group, or situation.

    The new training program had a measurable impact on employee productivity.

    Social media has a powerful impact on how young people see themselves.

    UsageUsually have an impact on something or make an impact; the size goes in an adjective: a big impact, little impact.

    Similareffect, influence, impression, bearing, consequence

  2. 2
    affectverbfigurativelytransitive or intransitive
    To have a significant or strong effect on someone or something.

    Rising interest rates impact household budgets across the country.

    The policy change impacted thousands of workers.

    UsageUsually takes a direct object: rates impact budgets, though impact on is also used. In careful writing, affect or have an impact on is safer.

    Similaraffect, influence

  3. 3
    collisionnouncountable or uncountable
    The action of one object hitting another, or the force with which it hits.

    The impact of the meteorite left a massive crater.

    Engineers studied the impact between the test vehicle and the barrier.

    UsageCommon in on impact and the moment of impact: the glass broke on impact.

  4. 4
    crash intoverbtransitive or intransitive
    To strike or collide with something.

    The probe is designed to impact the comet and gather data from the debris.

    The bullet impacted the steel plate and shattered.

    UsageUsually takes its target directly, with no preposition: the probe impacts the comet.

    Similarstrike, hit

    Oppositemiss

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    verbtransitive
    To press something firmly into a space, or to pack it tightly together.

    During the operation, the surgeon uses a small tamp to impact the bone graft firmly into the hip socket.

    Earwax that has become impacted in the ear canal can muffle your hearing until a doctor flushes it out.

    UsageMost often as impacted: impacted earwax.

    Similarcompact, compress, pack, tamp, press

    Oppositeloosen

  2. 6
    verbraretransitive
    To stamp or impress a mark onto a surface.

    Similarstamp, impress, imprint, emboss

    Note

    A rare use that treats the mind or a surface as something a mark can be pressed into: ideas impacted on the mind, much as a seal is pressed into wax. Notice that it can take on before the receiving surface. For most purposes, impress or stamp is the word a modern reader expects, and this sense is best recognized rather than imitated.

    Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • Impact has a sense meaning to stamp or impress onto something. en.wiktionary.org
    • The construction with on is exemplified by ideas impacted on the mind. en.wiktionary.org
    • A seal can leave an impression in wax. rmg.co.uk
  3. 7
    noun
    A forceful pressing of one thing against another, as of one vertebra on the next.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of impact apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Latin "impāctus" is the source; English has used the word since the 17th century.