Wordnet 3.0
VERB (1)
1. 
 have and exert influence or effect; 
- Example: "The artist's work influenced the young painter"- Example: "She worked on her friends to support the political candidate"[syn: influence, act upon, work]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
act upon
    v 1: have and exert influence or effect; "The artist's work
         influenced the young painter"; "She worked on her friends
         to support the political candidate" [syn: influence, act
         upon, work]