All 5 Uses

factor
in
The Blind Side, by Michael Lewis
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You don't think of fear as a factor in professional football.†
p. 16.1

factor = thing that affects a result or outcome
To a degree coaching can make a quarterback, and it certainly is the most important factor for his success.†
p. 106.6 *
Yet Lawrence Taylor hadn't been a factor—and a lot of front office executives apparently noticed the relative tranquillity on the blind side of Bills quarterback Jim Kelly.†
p. 253.7
And two days after the game it would occur to them that Chris Doleman or Lawrence Taylor or Bruce Smith hadn't factored into the game.
p. 255.7 *

factored = influenced (a result or outcome)
He was the driving factor in every game and the average fan would have had to force himself to pay attention to him, because the average fan watched the ball.†
p. 159.8

Definitions:

(1) (factor as in: It was the deciding factor.)
something that affects a result or outcome

You also may encounter x-factor or x factor--meaning "the most important thing that influences a result or outcome."
(2) (factor as in: factor it into your thinking)
include consideration of
(3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
There are many specialized meanings in fields such as mathematics, business, finance, biology, and grammar.