impressive
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of impressive
Explanation
Something that is impressive stands out because it is really good. Some of the most impressive college application essays are those that reflect on past events that shaped who the writer is today. When you impress someone, you show that you are special or that what you did is praiseworthy. So something that's impressive does just that, like the impressive feat of running a marathon every week for a year. The earliest meaning of impressive was "capable of being easily impressed," from the Latin word impressus, "imprint or stamp." By around 1775, the meaning had changed to "making a strong impression on."
Vocabulary lists containing impressive
A Long Walk to Water
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Freak the Mighty
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The City of Ember
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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.
Females lay ribbons of eggs that can stretch for an impressive 20 feet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
Equally, Isack Hadjar was more impressive than Lawson in 2025 - hence Red Bull's decision to promote him in favour of Yuki Tsunoda for this season.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Such an impressive classical pedigree belies the “gremlins of self-doubt” that have plagued Hopkins for much of his life.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
The dwelling is one of several in Balzary’s impressive portfolio, which has featured multiple homes in California over the years.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
I’m almost certain there’s no air left in my body, so it’s impressive that I have yet to pass out.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
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.
