impress

[ verb im-pres; noun im-pres ]

/ verb ɪmˈprɛs; noun ˈɪm prɛs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR impress 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.

Nearby words

impregnable, impregnate, impresa, impresario, imprescriptible, impress, impressible, impression, impressionable, impressionism, impressionist

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

SYNONYMS FOR impress

1 move, sway, disturb; persuade.

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Related forms

im·press·er, noun

Definition for impress (2 of 2)

impress

[ verb im-pres; noun im-pres ]

/ verb ɪmˈprɛs; noun ˈɪm prɛs /

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

Examples from the Web for 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|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|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|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|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|DAILY BEAST
Impress upon them the necessity of selecting capable officers.
The Boy and the Sunday School|John L. Alexander
You become a target for the people whom you care most to impress.
The Lady Doc|Caroline Lockhart
This little accident now will impress it on your mind and make you more cautious in future.'
Continental Monthly, Vol. I, No. V, May, 1862|Various
What I first want to do, is to impress upon you in a simple way the fact of the relation between the tide and the moon.
Time and Tide|Robert S. (Robert Stawell) Ball
He perceived that Mr. Potter was trying to impress him, but he was not impressed in the least.
The House of Strange Secrets|A. Eric Bayly

British Dictionary definitions for impress (1 of 2)

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 Forms

impresser, nounimpressible, adjective

Word Origin for impress

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

British Dictionary definitions for impress (2 of 2)

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