impact
Definitions
The force of one object striking another; a collision.
撞击；冲击力
A strong effect or influence on something or someone.
影响；作用
To have a strong effect on; to affect.
对……产生影响；冲击
To press or wedge firmly together (technical/medical).
使紧嵌；使阻生（技术/医学）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedim- (a form of in-, 'into') + pact (from pangere, 'drive in') = 'driven into.' The literal sense is one thing slamming into another — the impact of a meteor. Because a hard collision leaves a mark, English moved to the abstract: the impact of a decision is the forceful effect it drives into a situation.
Root pack still carries 11 more wordsWhy It Means This
impact is the physical hit turned into a metaphor for influence. A car crash has impact (force on contact); so, figuratively, does a new law (force on society). The shift is intuitive: just as a collision leaves a dent, a powerful event leaves its mark on people, markets, or the environment. The verb ('it will impact our budget') simply means 'to drive that force into' — though purists once preferred 'affect.'
Usage Guide
- Stress shift: noun is IM-pact (an IMpact on sales); verb is often im-PACT (this will imPACT us).
- Verb vs affect: 'impact our budget' is now standard, but in formal writing many editors still prefer 'affect' as the verb and reserve 'impact' for the noun ('the impact on our budget').
- on, not to: an impact ON something, never an impact to something.
- Technical sense: 'impacted' (wedged tight) survives in dentistry (an impacted tooth) and medicine (impacted bowel).
Example Sentences
- 1.
The car was badly damaged on impact with the wall.
- 2.
Social media has had a huge impact on how teenagers communicate.
- 3.
The new tax will directly impact small businesses.
- 4.
The dentist said my wisdom tooth was impacted and had to come out.
Easily Confused
impact vs effect vs influence — an effect is the plain result of a cause (the effect of rain on traffic). impact is a strong, forceful effect (a major impact). influence is a gradual, shaping pressure, often over time and often from a person (her influence on my taste). Big and sudden → impact; quiet and shaping → influence.