impress

[verb im-pres; noun im-pres]

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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

1325–75; Middle English < Latin impressus past participle of imprimere to press into or upon, impress, equivalent to im- im-¹ + pressus past participle of premere (combining form -primere) to press¹; see print

Related formsim·press·er, noun

Synonyms for impress

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1. move, sway, disturb; persuade.

impress

[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. 2019

Related Words for impress

thrill, faze, excite, touch, affect, awe, sway, inspire, mark, slay, move, pique, arouse, kill, carry, bulldoze, provoke, electrify, score, galvanize

Examples from the Web for impress

Contemporary Examples of impress

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
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
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
“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
[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

Historical Examples of impress

Boys were flogged at boundaries, to impress the boundaries on their memory.
A Treatise on Parents and Children
George Bernard Shaw
Boys were flogged when criminals were hanged, to impress the awful warning on them.
A Treatise on Parents and Children
George Bernard Shaw
The Eastern end of the Cathedral does not impress the beholder.
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine
She said this calmly and quietly, as though to impress her informant and reassure him.
Dust
Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
These performances, I gather, are to impress upon you that he is a free man and your equal.
American Notes
Rudyard Kipling

British Dictionary definitions for impress

impress

verb (ɪmˈprɛs) (tr)

to make an impression on; have a strong, lasting, or favourable effect onI 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; emphasizeto 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

Derived Formsimpresser, nounimpressible, adjective

Word Origin for impress

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

impress

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

Word Origin for 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

Word Origin and History for impress

late 14c., "have a strong effect on the mind or heart," from Latin impressus, past participle of imprimere "press into or upon, stamp," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + premere "to press" (see press (v.1)). Literal sense of "to apply with pressure, make a permanent image in, indent, imprint" is from early 15c. in English. Sense of "to levy for military service" is from 1590s, a meaning more from press (v.2). Related: Impressed; impressing.

"act of impressing," also "characteristic mark," 1590s, from impress (v.).