imposing
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of imposing
Explanation
Imposing is an adjective reserved for those things that are impressive in the sense that they are large or serious, as in the US Capitol Building or even, say, a professional wrestler. When you look at the word imposing you see the word pose, which is useful in remembering what it means. A person who is imposing might strike a pose because they feel they have a lot to show. In fact, imposing is derived from the French verb imposer, which means "to inflict." Its French roots may inspire you to envision the enormous and expensive wigs worn by members of the French court. The larger the wig, the more imposing it was. And all the more reason to strike a pose!
Vocabulary lists containing imposing
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 3
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An "August" Assortment: Words Worthy of Honor
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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.
Gangsters were not always imposing themselves on a reluctant industry.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
Interior Secretary Harold Ickes ended the skirmish by imposing a truce and persuading Congress to designate the dam as a federal project.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
Mexico has taken a more conciliatory approach, refraining from imposing retaliatory measures and engaging in talks, with Sheinbaum at times joining conversations with Greer and Lutnick.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Treasury Department said late Tuesday it was imposing penalties of more than $1.21 billion against Bank of America for violations of anti-money-laundering laws.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
My dad was about six-foot-two, and while he was probably the least violent guy ever, he could look pretty imposing.
From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
