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.

---

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.

---

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

---

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

---

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• impresser
  noun
• impressible
  adjective

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

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

Shares of Applied Materials fell 5% after the semiconductor-equipment maker reported higher third-quarter net income and increased revenue, but failed to impress investors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

It's an exciting time for collectors, whether they're looking for never-before-seen designs, classic shirts reimagined or niche releases from far-flung lands to impress their colleagues at five-a-side.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

But it’s still possible to impress skeptical investors and flip a negative narrative.

From Barron's ● Aug. 8, 2026

Replacing doors on the inside can also help impress potential buyers, Perry said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

I wanted to impress her with a clever definition, but I kept crashing into Beauty's something that's beautiful.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

AvaTrade’s Friedman said Monday’s action was coming at a hot time for the chip trade after Sandisk impressed investors with its financial targets at its investor day last week.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

The wickets were shared in a fine all-round bowling effort by the Rockets as Adams finished with miserly figures of 2-9 and Phillips, the 23-year-old domestic seamer, impressed with 2-12.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

Pay attention, don’t be so impressed, and other wisdom from the times I said yes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

Applied Materials reports better-than-expected earnings for its fiscal third quarter, but investors aren’t impressed.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

Despite everything, Mr. Haber had to be impressed.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

As the company achieves notable growth — sales more than doubled in the latest quarter — it’s also impressing Wall Street with its profit performance.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026

Buddhas float overhead like a divine ideal but also weigh down on their visitors, impressing on us the difficulty of ever reaching enlightenment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Bouaddi controls matches in a manner which defies his tender age, impressing in Morocco's opening draw with Brazil where he outshone Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

But, after impressing Frank Lampard on the Uefa Pro Licence course, he became first-team coach at Chelsea in the summer of 2020.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

I stared at them, impressing them forever on my mind, wondering why they had the power to touch me, to sadden me, as though they were children that did not want me to go away.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

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

She looked at Bazarov—and stood still in the doorway; so greatly was she imprest by the inflamed and at the same time deathly face, with its dim eyes fastened upon her.

From The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. VIII (of X) - Continental Europe II. by Henry Cabot Lodge

I welcome thy spray As the prairie-bound hunter The dawning of day; No shackles have bound thee, No tyrant imprest The mark of the Pale face On torrent and crest.

From Indian Legends and Other Poems by Mary Gardiner Horsford

He whose thoughts are imprest vividly on the surface is always placed at a glaring disadvantage.

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

What distils   Immediate thence, no end of being knows;   Bearing its seal immutably imprest.

From The World's Best Poetry, Volume 4 The Higher Life by Bliss Carman

Related Words

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