impinge

[ im-pinj ]
See synonyms for: impingeimpingement on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),im·pinged, im·ping·ing.
  1. to make an impression; have an effect or impact (usually followed by on or upon): to impinge upon the imagination; social pressures that impinge upon one's daily life.

  2. to encroach; infringe (usually followed by on or upon): to impinge on another's rights.

  1. to strike; dash; collide (usually followed by on, upon, or against): rays of light impinging on the eye.

verb (used with object),im·pinged, im·ping·ing.
  1. Obsolete. to come into violent contact with.

Origin of impinge

1
First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin impingere “to strike against, drive at,” equivalent to Latin im- prefix meaning “in” (see im-1) + -pingere, combining form of pangere “to fasten, drive in, fix”; see impact

Other words from impinge

  • im·ping·ent, adjective
  • im·ping·er, noun
  • im·pinge·ment, noun
  • un·im·ping·ing, adjective

Words that may be confused with impinge

Words Nearby impinge

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use impinge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for impinge

impinge

/ (ɪmˈpɪndʒ) /


verb
  1. (intr; usually foll by on or upon) to encroach or infringe; trespass: to impinge on someone's time

  2. (intr; usually foll by on, against, or upon) to collide (with); strike

Origin of impinge

1
C16: from Latin impingere to drive at, dash against, from pangere to fasten, drive in

Derived forms of impinge

  • impingement, noun
  • impinger, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012