impress
1to 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 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.
to create a favorable impression; draw attention to oneself: a child's behavior intended to impress.
Origin of impress
1Other words for impress
Other words from impress
- im·press·er, noun
Words Nearby impress
Other definitions for impress (2 of 2)
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.
Origin of impress
2Dictionary.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 BEASTA 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 BEASTHannigan 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.
[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 SullyRamona herself bore no impress of sorrow; rather her face had now an added radiance.
Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonHe 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 WoodThis glow of feeling and exhilaration gave a new impress of sweetness and fascination to her beauty.
Madame Roland, Makers of History | John S. C. AbbottAlmost 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)
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
the act or an instance of impressing
a mark, imprint, or effect produced by impressing
Origin of impress
1Derived forms of impress
- impresser, noun
- impressible, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for impress (2 of 2)
to commandeer or coerce (men or things) into government service; press-gang
the act of commandeering or coercing into government service; impressment
Origin of impress
2Collins 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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