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.
On Thursday, his most impressive play came early in the second quarter on third and seven from the Chargers’ 11-yard line.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
Bukayo Saka's performance in Arsenal's impressive opening-day win has already convinced some fans the Gunners are going to defend their Premier League crown.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Curry’s performance is even more impressive given his limited screen time — his scattered appearances as Pennywise total less than 20 minutes over a three-hour running time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
The Asian gallery is equally impressive, with the largest porcelain pieces displayed in a Z-shaped vitrine—an original museum signature—and Japanese prints.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
He’s in the middle of putting together an impressive and complex puzzle of some Greek goddess of some kind.
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.
