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

The only senior player other then Joao Pedro to particularly impress was winger Jamie Gittens, who made it three goals in three appearances in pre-season, following his two in behind-closed-doors friendlies against EFL opposition.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

When confronted by Helen, after she became suspicious, he admitted he was not a pilot, but said he had wanted to impress her.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

“I can do 25 pull-ups that can impress you.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 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

I think he was trying to impress her.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

Not only was Iamaleava impressed with his plans to prepare him for the NFL, but he found himself right away swept up in the coach’s personality.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

A few of the subordinate roles are amateurishly performed, but the main parts are vividly pulled off, and I was generally impressed by the ensemble’s flow and cohesion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Despite conceding six goals across two legs, Hearts impressed going forward in spells but lacked a clinical touch in front of goal, failing to score from a combined expected goals value of 2.6.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

But they seemed to go away more impressed than appalled.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

I don’t like the way I ended that essay, so I’m not sure I care if anyone else is impressed with it.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

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

That might succeed in impressing you, and maybe you might admire me, but it’s not going to forge a connection.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

However, if he was frightening or impressing fellow Slytherins with displays of Parseltongue in their common room, no hint of it reached the staff.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

Remember only, that upon him, whose appearance thou shalt assume, thine shall be imprest, till thou restorest his own.

From Almoran and Hamet by Hawkesworth, John

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

And e’en when this beauty your bosom has blest, The brightest o’ beauty may cloy when possest; But the sweet yellow darlings wi’ Geordie imprest, The langer ye hae them—the mair they’re carest.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert

I welcome thy spray As the prairie-bound hunter The dawning of day; No shackles have bound thee, No tyrant imprest The mark of the Pale face On torrent and crest.

From Indian Legends and Other Poems by Horsford, Mary Gardiner

His version is this:— "Enough for me, if to some feeling breast, My lines a secret sympathy convey; And as their pleasing influence is imprest, A sigh of soft reflection heave for Gray."

From Notes and Queries, Number 26, April 27, 1850 by Various

Related Words

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