TOP

Definition of impact noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

impact

noun
 
/ˈɪmpækt/
 
/ˈɪmpækt/
[countable, usually singular, uncountable]
jump to other results
  1. the powerful effect that something has on somebody/something
    • a positive/a negative/an adverse impact
    • a significant/major/huge impact
    • to have/make an impact
    • impact of something to reduce/minimize the impact of something
    • the environmental impact of tourism
    • impact of doing something the economic impact of leaving the European Union
    • impact on somebody/something Her speech made a profound impact on everyone.
    • He has had a lasting impact on the lives of many of his students.
    • The project's impact on the environment should be minimal.
    • impact of something on somebody/something The report assesses the impact of the disease on mortality and population growth.
    • impact from something It is too early to notice any impact from the recent changes to the rules.
    • an environmental impact assessment
    • a victim impact statement
    see also low-impact
    Extra Examples
    • Businesses are beginning to feel the full impact of the recession.
    • social support to cushion the impact of unemployment
    • It is difficult to judge the potential impact of the changes on employment patterns.
    • Architecturally, these churches reflected the impact of the Renaissance.
    • Listening to the speech through an interpreter lessened its impact somewhat.
    • The film lacks the visceral impact of her previous work.
    • The initial impact of the reforms will be felt most keenly in primary schools.
    • The severest human impact on the dolphins has been the loss of habitat.
    • We are trying to minimize the impact of price rises on our customers.
    • We'll show you how to dress for maximum impact at the all-important audition.
    • You certainly made a big impact on Carter.
    • a high-impact message aimed at changing people's attitudes
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • considerable
    • dramatic
    verb + impact
    • achieve
    • create
    • exert
    preposition
    • under the impact of
    • impact on
    • impact upon
    See full entry
  2. the act of one object hitting another; the force with which this happens
    • craters made by meteorite impacts
    • The impact of the blow knocked Jack off balance.
    • impact on something A well-designed sports shoe should absorb the impact on the 28 bones in each foot.
    • on impact The bomb explodes on impact (= when it hits something).
    • The car is fitted with side impact bars (= to protect it from a blow from the side).
    see also high-impact
    Extra Examples
    • Airbags are designed to soften the impact for crash victims.
    • Impact occurred seconds after the pilot radioed for help.
    • The front coach of the train took the full impact of the crash.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • full
    • initial
    • asteroid
    verb + impact
    • take
    • feel
    • absorb
    impact + verb
    • occur
    • knock somebody/​something…
    impact + noun
    • speed
    • velocity
    • crater
    preposition
    • on impact
    phrases
    • the moment, point, time, etc. of impact
    See full entry
  3. Word Originearly 17th cent. (as a verb in the sense ‘press closely, fix firmly’): from Latin impact- ‘driven in’, from the verb impingere ‘drive something in or at’, from in- ‘into’ + pangere ‘fix, drive’.
See impact in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee impact in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
trait
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
B2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day