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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

In an era when politics has never been more visual, he'll need to dress to impress, whatever he decides to wear.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

Finland’s headline EV numbers still impress: 47.8% of new cars sold in the first half of 2026 were fully electric.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

Mr. Hayward isn’t trying to impress Lizzie Bennet; he’s communing with Mary, in all of her meek and geeky glory.

From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026

She seizes her small opportunities to impress in the film’s second half.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

In part because of his undistinguished origins, Hamilton always seemed compelled to be proving himself; he needed to impress his superiors with his own superiority.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Trump has privately said that he was impressed with Ukraine’s effective use of drone warfare, according to administration officials familiar with his views.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Writing in The Sunday Times, external, Charlotte Ivers was less impressed, saying her appearance on the show "told us nothing about what she likes or who even will leave the competition".

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

One of these will be the presence of Anderson, while City are monitoring 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who impressed for Morocco in the World Cup.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Others were less impressed, with reviews ranging from “average” to “nasty.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

Every other professor was happy with their yes, sirs and no, ma’ams, but Green had never been impressed with me.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

He won the nomination after impressing his CEA colleagues.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

But from the World Cup warm-up matches against New Zealand and Costa Rice, things started to look different - with Bellingham impressing.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

I was hellbent on impressing my guests with culinary theatrics and wild flavors, thinking the more labor I poured into my meals, the better the quality of my party.

From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026

At the back, England struggled to live with Spain's creativity and dynamism, with only Esme Morgan impressing in a generally dismal performance.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026

These are the qualities we admire in things that have style, for style has a way of impressing itself upon us even if we do not know what particular kind of style is involved.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

But here at any rate we can see the house in which he toiled—no genius ever took more pains—and the surroundings which imprest his mind and influenced his inspiration.

From Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 5 Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland, Part 1 by Halsey, Francis W. (Francis Whiting)

I own belief may be imprest on the mind otherwise than by the force of reason.

From Answer to Dr. Priestley's Letters to a Philosophical Unbeliever by Turner, Matthew

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

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

Nicholas.—We have disposed of our brother, his Prussian Majesty, who appeared to be imprest by the apprehension that a portion of his dominions was in jeopardy.

From The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 1, August, 1851 by Various

Since Sonnets thus in bundles are imprest, And euery drudge doth dull our satiate eare, Think'st thou my loue, shall in those rags be drest That euery dowdie, euery trull doth weare?

From Minor Poems of Michael Drayton by Brett, Cyril

Related Words

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