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

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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

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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

Like Viktor Orbán last spring, Mr. Vucic, who conceded Sunday, learned that warm relations with Mr. Trump’s White House don’t always impress the voters at home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

A landlocked country still widely associated with a horrific genocide in 1994, Rwanda has used sports to revamp its image, attract tourists and impress investors with its organisational efficiency.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

Trying to impress the announced crowd of 75,500, which was as raucous as Riley remembered hearing in his four-plus seasons in L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

The point of the date is to get to know the person better, not to attempt to impress them with how much you can afford to spend.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

Grant Burch told his servant Phelps to run and get him a peanut Yorkie and a can of Top Deck from Rhydd's Shop, yelling after him, “Run, I told yer!” to impress Tom Yew.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

Abrams didn’t support Conley in the primary, but she’s been impressed with her on the campaign trail.

From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026

Given the ICE raids and general denunciations of immigrants, Mohiuddin, a Muslim and Canadian immigrant, said he’s been impressed by Raman’s outreach to minority communities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

“We are impressed by how Microsoft increasingly manages AI infrastructure capacity like an investment portfolio, allocating a scarce and fungible asset toward the highest-return opportunities while considering strategic tradeoffs,” Lee writes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

The opening partnership between Duckett and Tom Banton impressed again as the pair added 163 together before the latter frustratingly dragged on to his stumps for a fine 74.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

From the time the Antikythera wreck was first discovered, those who have seen it firsthand have been impressed with the amount of wreckage and how large the ancient sunken vessel seems to have been.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

SoFi’s early 2027 forecast is impressing Wall Street.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

While most said Carrick deserved his shot at the job full-time, others said it smacked of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment, also after impressing in interim charge in 2019.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

A product of Manchester City's youth academy, Harwood-Bellis joined Southampton for £20m in 2024 after impressing on loan.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

As the company achieves notable growth — sales more than doubled in the latest quarter — it’s also impressing Wall Street with its profit performance.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026

Thus an Italian opera, typically, was a series of well-defined ‘numbers’, a glorified variety show, with something for everyone and plenty of opportunity for lead singers to have their turn at impressing the audience.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

While pity prompts the rising sigh, With awful power imprest; May this dread truth, "I too must die," Sink deep in every breast.

From Masonic Monitor of the Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason together with the Ceremony of Installation, Laying Corner Stones, Dedications, Masonic Burial, Etc. by George Thornburgh

This is that Henry IV., whose scene at Canossa with the Pope—Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire waiting three days in the snow to kiss the foot of excommunicative Gregory—has imprest itself on all memories.

From Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 5 Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland, Part 1 by Francis W. (Francis Whiting) Halsey

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

From Heathen Mythology by Various

Any one who has seen Irving's masterly representation of the dying Louis cannot but be imprest by the verisimilitude of Northcote's presentation.

From Tieck's Essay on the Boydell Shakspere Gallery by George Henry Danton

The storied arras, source of fond delight, With old achievement charms the wilder'd sight; And still, with Heraldry's rich hues imprest, On the dim window glows the pictur'd crest.

From Poems by Samuel Rogers

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Related Words

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• inspire
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