impress

[ verb im-pres; noun im-pres ]

See synonyms for: impress impressed impresses impressing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),im·pressed or (Archaic) im·prest; im·pres·sing.

to affect deeply or strongly in mind or feelings; influence in opinion: He impressed us as a sincere young man.
to fix deeply or firmly on the mind or memory, as ideas or facts: to impress the importance of honesty on a child.

to urge, as something to be remembered or done: She impressed the need for action on them.
to press (a thing) into or on something.
to impose a particular characteristic or quality upon (something): The painter impressed his love of garish colors upon the landscape.
to produce (a mark, figure, etc.) by pressure; stamp; imprint: The king impressed his seal on the melted wax.
to apply with pressure, so as to leave a mark.
to subject to or mark by pressure with something.
to furnish with a mark, figure, etc., by or as if by stamping.
Electricity. to produce (a voltage) or cause (a voltage) to appear or be produced on a conductor, circuit, etc.

verb (used without object),im·pressed or (Archaic) im·prest; im·pres·sing.

to create a favorable impression; draw attention to oneself: a child's behavior intended to impress.

noun

the act of impressing.
a mark made by or as by pressure; stamp; imprint.

a distinctive character or effect imparted: writings that bear the impress of a strong personality.

Origin of impress

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, press¹, print

Other words for impress

1	affect; stir, touch; inspire, move, persuade, sway

See synonyms for impress on Thesaurus.com

Other words from impress

im·press·er, noun

Words Nearby impress

Other definitions for impress (2 of 2)

impress²

[ verb im-pres; noun im-pres ]

verb (used with object),im·pressed or (Archaic) im·prest; im·pres·sing.

to press or force into public service, as sailors.
to seize or take for public use.

to take or persuade into service by forceful arguments: The neighbors were impressed into helping the family move.

noun

impressment.

Origin of impress

First recorded in 1590–1600; im-¹ + press²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use impress in a sentence

Since he doesn't have to impress me, it's clearly a little show for Alma.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
A new reality series spotlights the extent people will go to impress a crush—from pretending to be deaf to committing theft.
‘My Crazy Love’ Reveals the Craziest Lies People Tell for Love | Kevin Fallon | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Hannigan pretended to be a basketball pro in order to impress a hot guy she had a crush on—only she had never played basketball.
‘My Crazy Love’ Reveals the Craziest Lies People Tell for Love | Kevin Fallon | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“He spent most of his time trying to impress me,” Campbell tells Piazza about a meeting with Ryan.
The World Would Go to Hell Without Nuns | William O’Connor | September 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
[Your superiors] become the people you most want to impress—and this is how you do it.
‘Kill Team’: The Documentary the Army Doesn’t Want You to See | Andrew Romano | July 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

We have to remember that his daily life, where the home is orderly, helps to impress on him regularity of form.
Children's Ways | James Sully
Ramona herself bore no impress of sorrow; rather her face had now an added radiance.
Ramona | Helen Hunt Jackson
He took both her hands between his as he spoke; not so much, it seemed in affection, as to impress solemnity upon her.
Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry Wood
This glow of feeling and exhilaration gave a new impress of sweetness and fascination to her beauty.
Madame Roland, Makers of History | John S. C. Abbott
Almost all the variety of the landscape is due to this impress of water action which has operated on the surface in past ages.
Outlines of the Earth's History | Nathaniel Southgate Shaler

British Dictionary definitions for impress (1 of 2)

impress¹

verb(ɪmˈprɛs) (tr)

to make an impression on; have a strong, lasting, or favourable effect on: I am impressed by your work
to produce (an imprint, etc) by pressure in or on (something): to impress a seal in wax; to impress wax with a seal

(often foll by on) to stress (something to a person); urge; emphasize: to impress the danger of a situation on someone
to exert pressure on; press
electronics to apply (a voltage) to a circuit or device

noun(ˈɪmprɛs)

the act or an instance of impressing
a mark, imprint, or effect produced by impressing

Origin of impress

C14: from Latin imprimere to press into, imprint, from premere to press 1

Derived forms of impress

impresser, noun
impressible, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for impress (2 of 2)

impress²

verb(ɪmˈprɛs)

to commandeer or coerce (men or things) into government service; press-gang

noun(ˈɪmprɛs)

the act of commandeering or coercing into government service; impressment

Origin of impress

C16: see im- in- ², press ²

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

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