noun
impact
IHM-pakt
noun
1
The force of one object striking another; a collision.
"The car crumpled on impact."
2
A significant effect or influence.
"The new policy had a major impact on small businesses."
"Her mentorship had a lasting impact on his career."
verb
1
To have a significant effect on something.
"Rising fuel costs impacted every airline that year."
2
To strike or collide with something forcefully.
"The meteor impacted the desert floor at high speed."
How to Use Impact
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA strong effect, or the physical force of a collision.
Common mistake
Some style guides frown on "impact" as a verb meaning "affect" in formal writing — "affect" or "influence" is a safer choice there.
Common pairings
have an impact on
environmental impact
impact on impact
Word Forms
impacted past tense, impacts plural, impacts singular
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The car crumpled on _____.
Etymology
From Latin impactus, attested in English since the 1600s.