impinge
Americanverb (used without object)
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to make an impression; have an effect or impact (usually followed by on orupon ).
to impinge upon the imagination; social pressures that impinge upon one's daily life.
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to encroach; infringe (usually followed by on orupon ).
to impinge on another's rights.
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to strike; dash; collide (usually followed by on, upon, oragainst ).
rays of light impinging on the eye.
verb (used with object)
verb
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(intr; usually foll by on or upon) to encroach or infringe; trespass
to impinge on someone's time
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(intr; usually foll by on, against, or upon) to collide (with); strike
Other Word Forms
- impingement noun
- impingent adjective
- impinger noun
- unimpinging adjective
Etymology
Origin of impinge
First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin impingere “to strike against, drive at,” equivalent to Latin im- prefix meaning “in” ( im- 1 ) + -pingere, combining form of pangere “to fasten, drive in, fix”; impact
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.
"So many clubs are in MCOs that to introduce a set of rules would impinge upon them," Maguire added.
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026
Human rights advocates fear the new policy will impinge on civil rights.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 22, 2025
In other words, actions like mining development, agriculture and so on, unleash a whole lot of chemicals which impinge on us every day.
From Salon • Nov. 30, 2024
“We can build an inclusive environment in many ways, but compelled statements impinge on freedom of expression, and they don’t work.”
From New York Times • May 6, 2024
And yet in the Superficies of the thinned Body, where it is of any one thickness, there are as many parts for the Rays to impinge on, as where it is of any other thickness.
From Opticks or, a Treatise of the Reflections, Refractions, Inflections, and Colours of Light by Newton, Isaac, Sir
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.
