impress

¹ American  

[im-pres, im-pres] / ɪmˈprɛs, ˈɪm prɛs /

verb (used with object)

impressed, imprest, impressing

1. to affect deeply or strongly in mind or feelings; influence in opinion.

   He impressed us as a sincere young man.

   Synonyms:

   sway, persuade, move, inspire, touch, stir, affect

2. to fix deeply or firmly on the mind or memory, as ideas or facts.

   to impress the importance of honesty on a child.

3. to urge, as something to be remembered or done.

   She impressed the need for action on them.

4. to press (a thing) into or on something.

5. to impose a particular characteristic or quality upon (something).

   The painter impressed his love of garish colors upon the landscape.

6. to produce (a mark, figure, etc.) by pressure; stamp; imprint.

   The king impressed his seal on the melted wax.

7. to apply with pressure, so as to leave a mark.

8. to subject to or mark by pressure with something.

9. to furnish with a mark, figure, etc., by or as if by stamping.

10. Electricity. to produce (a voltage) or cause (a voltage) to appear or be produced on a conductor, circuit, etc.

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verb (used without object)

impressed, imprest, impressing

1. to create a favorable impression; draw attention to oneself.

   a child's behavior intended to impress.

noun

1. the act of impressing.

2. a mark made by or as by pressure; stamp; imprint.

3. a distinctive character or effect imparted.

   writings that bear the impress of a strong personality.

impress ² American  

[im-pres, im-pres] / ɪmˈprɛs, ˈɪm prɛs /

verb (used with object)

impressed, imprest, impressing

1. to press or force into public service, as sailors.

2. to seize or take for public use.

3. to take or persuade into service by forceful arguments.

   The neighbors were impressed into helping the family move.

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noun

1. impressment.

impress ¹ British  

verb

1. to make an impression on; have a strong, lasting, or favourable effect on

   I am impressed by your work

2. to produce (an imprint, etc) by pressure in or on (something)

   to impress a seal in wax

   to impress wax with a seal

3. (often foll by on) to stress (something to a person); urge; emphasize

   to impress the danger of a situation on someone

4. to exert pressure on; press

5. electronics to apply (a voltage) to a circuit or device

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noun

1. the act or an instance of impressing

2. a mark, imprint, or effect produced by impressing

impress ² British  

verb

1. to commandeer or coerce (men or things) into government service; press-gang

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noun

1. the act of commandeering or coercing into government service; impressment

Other Word Forms

• impresser
  noun
• impressible
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of impress¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin impressus, past participle of imprimere “to press into or upon, impress,” equivalent to im- “in” + pressus, past participle of premere (combining form -primere ) “to press”; see im- ¹, press ¹, print

Origin of impress²

First recorded in 1590–1600; im- ¹ + press ²

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Explanation

Think of the verb impress as "leaving a mark." You might impress a print onto canvas, or you might impress prospective employers in a job interview. Whether that impression will be good or bad is up to you! The past participle of the Latin verb imprimere, "to press," is impressus, which evolved in the 14th century to the meaning "to make a permanent image." The word then came to be used figuratively, as when your parents impress upon you the importance of being honest or when you impress the judges at a diving competition. Impress can also mean to conscript someone into the army.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

impress impressed impressing imprest

A landlocked country still widely associated with a horrific genocide in 1994, Rwanda has used sports to revamp its image, attract tourists and impress investors with its organisational efficiency.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

Gemini Spark did impress me with collecting everything I needed for Global Entry applications from my Google services, which a standard Gemini search with Personal Intelligence couldn’t do.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

Trying to impress the announced crowd of 75,500, which was as raucous as Riley remembered hearing in his four-plus seasons in L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

The point of the date is to get to know the person better, not to attempt to impress them with how much you can afford to spend.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

But when I came out for dinner, Nan looked like herself again, unmussed and dressed to impress in black leggings and a long red shirt with lipstick to match.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

Abrams didn’t support Conley in the primary, but she’s been impressed with her on the campaign trail.

From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026

The opening partnership between Duckett and Tom Banton impressed again as the pair added 163 together before the latter frustratingly dragged on to his stumps for a fine 74.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

Microsoft delivered a combination of growth and profitability that impressed Wall Street on Wednesday — especially against the backdrop of greater scrutiny over artificial-intelligence investments.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, a Pasadena-area Democrat who met Gonzales-Torres through her work as an academic counselor, said she’s impressed with her interest in challenging federal immigration laws.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

I nodded, doing my best to look appropriately impressed.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

SoFi’s early 2027 forecast is impressing Wall Street after a tough stretch for the stock.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

SoFi’s early 2027 forecast is impressing Wall Street.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

Indeed, Scott was so impressive that Tuchel said: "Is Declan still for me a fixed point in my team? Yes, but some other players are coming and impressing and it's an ongoing competition."

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

While most said Carrick deserved his shot at the job full-time, others said it smacked of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment, also after impressing in interim charge in 2019.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

I honestly don’t care about impressing my date.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

While mony a kiss the seal imprest, The sacred vow,—we ne’er should sever.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Robert Burns

This is that Henry IV., whose scene at Canossa with the Pope—Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire waiting three days in the snow to kiss the foot of excommunicative Gregory—has imprest itself on all memories.

From Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 5 Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland, Part 1 by Francis W. (Francis Whiting) Halsey

In order to foresee disasters it is necessary that the perception—visual or auditory—of said disasters should already have imprest us.

From Common Sense, How to Exercise It by Mme. Blanchard Yoritomo-Tashi

Since sonnets thus in bundles are imprest, And every drudge doth dull our satiate ear, Think'st thou my love shall in those rags be drest That every dowdy, every trull doth wear?

From Elizabethan Sonnet Cycles: Idea, Fidesa and Chloris by Martha Foote Crow

Since Sonnets thus in bundles are imprest, And euery drudge doth dull our satiate eare, Think'st thou my loue, shall in those rags be drest That euery dowdie, euery trull doth weare?

From Minor Poems of Michael Drayton by Cyril Brett

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Related Words

• affect
• awe
• excite
• faze
• inspire
• sway
• thrill
• touch

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