impress
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to affect deeply or strongly in mind or feelings; influence in opinion.
He impressed us as a sincere young man.
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to fix deeply or firmly on the mind or memory, as ideas or facts.
to impress the importance of honesty on a child.
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to urge, as something to be remembered or done.
She impressed the need for action on them.
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to press (a thing) into or on something.
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to impose a particular characteristic or quality upon (something).
The painter impressed his love of garish colors upon the landscape.
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to produce (a mark, figure, etc.) by pressure; stamp; imprint.
The king impressed his seal on the melted wax.
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to apply with pressure, so as to leave a mark.
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to subject to or mark by pressure with something.
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to furnish with a mark, figure, etc., by or as if by stamping.
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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)
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to press or force into public service, as sailors.
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to seize or take for public use.
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to take or persuade into service by forceful arguments.
The neighbors were impressed into helping the family move.
noun
verb
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to make an impression on; have a strong, lasting, or favourable effect on
I am impressed by your work
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to produce (an imprint, etc) by pressure in or on (something)
to impress a seal in wax
to impress wax with a seal
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(often foll by on) to stress (something to a person); urge; emphasize
to impress the danger of a situation on someone
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to exert pressure on; press
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electronics to apply (a voltage) to a circuit or device
noun
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the act or an instance of impressing
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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
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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:
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
We found out that the daughters of the geologist Leonard Horner invited Darwin to come over for a visit—in Maōri, which they thought would impress the world traveler.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
“It’s super hard because you’re trying to impress, but there are a lot of things you’re trying to balance,” Allen said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 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
I wanted so bad to come up with something just as deep, something that would impress Mei-li and show her how smart I could be.
From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña
State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, a Pasadena-area Democrat who met Gonzales-Torres through her work as an academic counselor, said she’s impressed with her interest in challenging federal immigration laws.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
The new forecasts show SoFi’s optimism, though the company hasn’t impressed investors this year.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026
More significant, musically, it was orchestral pop with multiple movements; chord changes that might have impressed both Paul McCartney and Claude Debussy; and an obscurely poetic paean to lost love.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
Another young recruit, 18-year-old Sean Steur, impressed after starting against Hull in September, but has not played a minute since.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
As I watched him, I couldn’t help but be a little impressed.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
SoFi’s early 2027 forecast is impressing Wall Street.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
He has been in and out since then, impressing in flashes and even going on to make his England debut earlier this season.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
Leeds, impressing again under boss Daniel Farke, are also on nine points and in a potential Champions League place.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 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
During those years when I was memorizing the questions and answers of The Baltimore Catechism, I was also impressing on my memory the spelling of hundreds of words, grammar rules, division and multiplication tables.
From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez
Since sonnets thus in bundles are imprest, And every drudge doth dull our satiate ear, Think'st thou my love shall in those rags be drest That every dowdy, every trull doth wear?
From Elizabethan Sonnet Cycles: Idea, Fidesa and Chloris by Martha Foote Crow
Remember only, that upon him, whose appearance thou shalt assume, thine shall be imprest, till thou restorest his own.
From Almoran and Hamet by John Hawkesworth
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
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
I own belief may be imprest on the mind otherwise than by the force of reason.
From Answer to Dr. Priestley's Letters to a Philosophical Unbeliever by Matthew Turner
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