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
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!
Freak the Mighty
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!
The City of Ember
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.
“The economy is showing impressive resilience,” Warsh said during his postmeeting press conference.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Throughout, Kurosawa emphasizes the castle’s impressive interiors, enhancing the sense that Murashige’s men are trapped, the greatest mystery being when Oda’s forces will finally breach Arioka’s defenses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
For July through Wednesday, the S&P 500 software industry group returned 2.8%, which may not seem to be an impressive performance, but this followed a 19.6% drop during the first half of the year.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
Ronan Evain - executive director of Football Supporters' Europe - told the BBC that Uefa's stance was "very impressive" and "proper show of force".
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Others had stubby heads with impressive, wide jaws.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
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.
