impressive
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of impressive
Explanation
Something that is impressive stands out because it is really good. Some of the most impressive college application essays are those that reflect on past events that shaped who the writer is today. When you impress someone, you show that you are special or that what you did is praiseworthy. So something that's impressive does just that, like the impressive feat of running a marathon every week for a year. The earliest meaning of impressive was "capable of being easily impressed," from the Latin word impressus, "imprint or stamp." By around 1775, the meaning had changed to "making a strong impression on."
Vocabulary lists containing impressive
A Long Walk to Water
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Freak the Mighty
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The City of Ember
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Impressive, but that is nothing like Marvell, which is up 373%.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
Impressive agencies of many stripes noticed: advertising, branding, public affairs, strategic comms.
From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026
Impressive world building gives a visceral texture to the environment that reflects the prickly emotions by those used, abused and cast off, who then reclaim their power by banding together.
From Salon • Dec. 19, 2025
Impressive numbers for a small organization, but only a partial solution considering the city shelter system’s “Dog Occupancy Meter” reported 1,541 dogs in early July — more than double the city’s capacity.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 21, 2025
Impressive performances have indicated this and many of your opponents will testify to your physical prowess.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
