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impress

1
[ verb im-pres; noun im-pres ]
/ verb ɪmˈprɛs; noun ˈɪm prɛs /
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See synonyms for: impress / impressed / impresses / impressing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), im·pressed or (Archaic) im·prest; im·pres·sing.
verb (used without object), im·pressed or (Archaic) im·prest; im·pres·sing.
to create a favorable impression; draw attention to oneself: a child's behavior intended to impress.
noun
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Origin of impress

1
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, press1, print

OTHER WORDS FROM impress

im·press·er, noun

Other definitions for impress (2 of 2)

impress2
[ verb im-pres; noun im-pres ]
/ verb ɪmˈprɛs; noun ˈɪm prɛs /

verb (used with object), im·pressed or (Archaic) im·prest; im·pres·sing.
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

Origin of impress

2
First recorded in 1590–1600; im-1 + press2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use impress in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for impress (1 of 2)

impress1

verb (ɪmˈprɛs) (tr)
noun (ˈɪmprɛs)
the act or an instance of impressing
a mark, imprint, or effect produced by impressing

Derived forms of impress

impresser, nounimpressible, adjective

Word Origin for impress

C14: from Latin imprimere to press into, imprint, from premere to press 1

British Dictionary definitions for impress (2 of 2)

impress2

verb (ɪmˈprɛs)
to commandeer or coerce (men or things) into government service; press-gang
noun (ˈɪmprɛs)
the act of commandeering or coercing into government service; impressment

Word Origin for impress

C16: see im- in- ², press ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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