impress
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
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)
verb (used with object)
-
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
verb
-
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
noun
-
the act or an instance of impressing
-
a mark, imprint, or effect produced by impressing
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
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
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.
Vocabulary lists containing impress
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Save Me a Seat
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Long Way Down
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Set in one tatty motel room in 1967 Detroit, “Voices” is a vicious flick about rising two soul acts hellbent on getting on stage that night to impress Motown Records’ Barry Gordy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
"In the 1840 narrative, Byfield sought to impress wealthy patrons by presenting himself as a dutiful soldier and deserving veteran," O'Keeffe says.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026
Hearn even borrowed his father's car to impress Taylor.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Shares of Applied Materials fell 5% after the semiconductor-equipment maker reported higher third-quarter net income and increased revenue, but failed to impress investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
“I mean, I have to impress my Yale-major boyfriend.”
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Yet the Chargers’ newest playcaller has been impressed with Slaughter’s comprehension and attention to detail.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026
While Root needed fortune, Jordan Cox once again impressed with a composed 59, a further claim for the Essex man to be in the XI for the first Test against South Africa in December.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Brook, Lawrence and Smith all impressed, and all will be disappointed they missed out on three figures.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Oracle impressed Wall Street with its remaining performance obligations, or the value of signed contracts not yet converted to revenue.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
Penelope looked, and although she did not howl “Torowoooo!” like the children, she was just as impressed.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
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
While at City, rapid forward Fletcher, an England Under-17s international, helped the club reach the FA Youth Cup final in 2024 and 2025 before impressing at Ipswich, scoring six times in the Premier League 2.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
He won the nomination after impressing his CEA colleagues.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
But, after impressing Frank Lampard on the Uefa Pro Licence course, he became first-team coach at Chelsea in the summer of 2020.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
But while they were impressing each other on the road with their tightrope-without-a-safety-net virtuosity, there was another, quite opposite impulse emerging.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
A heart where dread was never so imprest To hide the thought that might the truth advance; In neither fortune lost, nor yet represt, To swell in wealth, or yield unto mischance.
From Six Centuries of English Poetry Tennyson to Chaucer by James Baldwin
Thy wisdom is made manifest In all things formed by Thy behest, All with Thy seal's clear mark imprest.
From Hebrew Literature by Epiphanius Wilson
I know of no other use of the word "imprest" as a substantive; and though we see "debenture" often enough in railway reports, I cannot perceive the analogy between its meanings in the two cases.
From Notes and Queries, Number 33, June 15, 1850 by Various
The ayre, in which My figures liknesse is imprest, will blast.
From Bussy D'Ambois and The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois by Frederick S. Boas
He whose thoughts are imprest vividly on the surface is always placed at a glaring disadvantage.
From Common Sense, How to Exercise It by Mme. Blanchard Yoritomo-Tashi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
