impinge

[im-pinj]

verb (used without object), im·pinged, im·ping·ing.

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

Obsolete. to come into violent contact with.

Origin of impinge

1525–35; < Medieval Latin impingere to strike against, drive at, equivalent to Latin im- im-¹ + -pingere, combining form of pangere to fasten, drive in, fix; see impact

Related formsim·ping·ent, adjectiveim·ping·er, nounim·pinge·ment, nounun·im·ping·ing, adjective

Can be confusedinfringe impinge

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for impinging

infringe, intrude, encroach, disturb, violate, influence, meddle, obtrude, touch, affect, pry, invade

Examples from the Web for impinging

Historical Examples of impinging

And the mood he hated and feared was impinging upon his mind.
The U.P. Trail
Zane Grey
Trunnions and all impinging influences are incompatible with correctness of fire.
Gunnery in 1858
William Greener
He felt the curious glances of the chosen, impinging against his back.
The Triumph of Virginia Dale
John Francis, Jr.
But he did feel the wave of emotion that welled from her, impinging directly on his empathetic sense.
Planet of the Damned
Harry Harrison
The wet air was moveless, and yet she could feel it impinging with its cool, sharp humidity on her cheek.
The Price of Love
Arnold Bennett

British Dictionary definitions for impinging

impinge

verb

(intr; usually foll by on or upon) to encroach or infringe; trespassto impinge on someone's time
(intr; usually foll by on, against, or upon) to collide (with); strike

Derived Formsimpingement, nounimpinger, noun

Word Origin for impinge

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

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

Word Origin and History for impinging

impinge

1530s, "fasten or fix forcibly," from Latin impingere "drive into, strike against," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + pangere "to fix, fasten" (see pact). Sense of "encroach, infringe" first recorded 1738. Related: Impinged; impinging.