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

It's an exciting time for collectors, whether they're looking for never-before-seen designs, classic shirts reimagined or niche releases from far-flung lands to impress their colleagues at five-a-side.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

But it’s still possible to impress skeptical investors and flip a negative narrative.

From Barron's ● Aug. 8, 2026

Tech stocks are set for a wobble on Thursday, as shares of memory makers Sandisk and Western Digital tumble following earnings that failed to impress investors.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

But they’ve got another bone to pick with Holden Caulfield: He is being used as a prop by performative men to impress those around him.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

But there was no stench that could impress a trainee nurse.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

I ran, swam, biked, worked, showered and slept with the Cirqa over the past few weeks, and was impressed by its value.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

And after leading the Southeastern Conference with 1,054 receiving yards as a senior at Mississippi State, Thompson impressed the Chargers enough to be their fourth-round pick.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026

But I was genuinely impressed when the Cirqa ran for 11 days on a single charge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

"We were impressed with Dennis's commercial and public sector experience," said David Bick, the Reform leader of the council.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Despite everything, Mr. Haber had to be impressed.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

He won the nomination after impressing his CEA colleagues.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

Bouaddi controls matches in a manner which defies his tender age, impressing in Morocco's opening draw with Brazil where he outshone Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 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

At the back, England struggled to live with Spain's creativity and dynamism, with only Esme Morgan impressing in a generally dismal performance.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026

They had held him spellbound, and now they were impressing Maria so much that she was practically glued to him.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

He whose thoughts are imprest vividly on the surface is always placed at a glaring disadvantage.

From Common Sense, How to Exercise It by Yoritomo-Tashi, Mme. Blanchard

No certain form on any was imprest; All were confused, and each disturbed the rest.

From Heathen Mythology by Various

Since Sonnets thus in bundles are imprest, And euery drudge doth dull our satiate eare, Think'st thou my loue, shall in those rags be drest That euery dowdie, euery trull doth weare?

From Minor Poems of Michael Drayton by Brett, Cyril

In the rule given by the A.P.A. for the substitution of ed for t, lasht and imprest are given as examples.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 26, July 1880. by Various

If I had been going into a real engagement I could not have been more deeply imprest by the importance of the occasion.

From The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. X (of X) - America - II, Index by Lodge, Henry Cabot

Related Words

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