impressive
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- impressively adverb
- impressiveness noun
- preimpressive adjective
- unimpressive adjective
- unimpressively adverb
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.
It may well be that the duo have decided to relocate to one of their other impressive properties, which include a home in London and a countryside retreat in upstate New York.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
Semiconductor stocks have shown impressive strength in recent months, with broad participation across the sector driving a steady rally.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
Britain's Moses Itauma, 21, earned an impressive fifth-round win over Jermaine Franklin in March, becoming the first fighter to stop the American in 27 fights.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
Orange Lutheran’s pitching depth was impressive all week.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026
“It was impressive, the way you used your book smarts to get rid of it.”
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
