impress

¹ American  

[im-pres, im-pres] / ɪmˈprɛs, ˈɪm prɛs /

verb (used with object)

impressed, imprest, impressing

1. to affect deeply or strongly in mind or feelings; influence in opinion.

   He impressed us as a sincere young man.

   Synonyms:

   sway, persuade, move, inspire, touch, stir, affect

2. to fix deeply or firmly on the mind or memory, as ideas or facts.

   to impress the importance of honesty on a child.

3. to urge, as something to be remembered or done.

   She impressed the need for action on them.

4. to press (a thing) into or on something.

5. to impose a particular characteristic or quality upon (something).

   The painter impressed his love of garish colors upon the landscape.

6. to produce (a mark, figure, etc.) by pressure; stamp; imprint.

   The king impressed his seal on the melted wax.

7. to apply with pressure, so as to leave a mark.

8. to subject to or mark by pressure with something.

9. to furnish with a mark, figure, etc., by or as if by stamping.

10. Electricity. to produce (a voltage) or cause (a voltage) to appear or be produced on a conductor, circuit, etc.

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verb (used without object)

impressed, imprest, impressing

1. to create a favorable impression; draw attention to oneself.

   a child's behavior intended to impress.

noun

1. the act of impressing.

2. a mark made by or as by pressure; stamp; imprint.

3. a distinctive character or effect imparted.

   writings that bear the impress of a strong personality.

impress ² American  

[im-pres, im-pres] / ɪmˈprɛs, ˈɪm prɛs /

verb (used with object)

impressed, imprest, impressing

1. to press or force into public service, as sailors.

2. to seize or take for public use.

3. to take or persuade into service by forceful arguments.

   The neighbors were impressed into helping the family move.

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noun

1. impressment.

impress ¹ British  

verb

1. to make an impression on; have a strong, lasting, or favourable effect on

   I am impressed by your work

2. to produce (an imprint, etc) by pressure in or on (something)

   to impress a seal in wax

   to impress wax with a seal

3. (often foll by on) to stress (something to a person); urge; emphasize

   to impress the danger of a situation on someone

4. to exert pressure on; press

5. electronics to apply (a voltage) to a circuit or device

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noun

1. the act or an instance of impressing

2. a mark, imprint, or effect produced by impressing

impress ² British  

verb

1. to commandeer or coerce (men or things) into government service; press-gang

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noun

1. the act of commandeering or coercing into government service; impressment

Other Word Forms

• impresser
  noun
• impressible
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of impress¹

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, press ¹, print

Origin of impress²

First recorded in 1590–1600; im- ¹ + press ²

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Explanation

Think of the verb impress as "leaving a mark." You might impress a print onto canvas, or you might impress prospective employers in a job interview. Whether that impression will be good or bad is up to you! The past participle of the Latin verb imprimere, "to press," is impressus, which evolved in the 14th century to the meaning "to make a permanent image." The word then came to be used figuratively, as when your parents impress upon you the importance of being honest or when you impress the judges at a diving competition. Impress can also mean to conscript someone into the army.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

impress impressed impressing imprest

England manager Thomas Tuchel said Cole Palmer "misses too many chances to impress" after not selecting the Chelsea forward for November's Nations League fixtures.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

A landlocked country still widely associated with a horrific genocide in 1994, Rwanda has used sports to revamp its image, attract tourists and impress investors with its organisational efficiency.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

It was the title character in Misty Green, the new movie written and directed by comedian Chris Rock, and Eleazar wanted to impress.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Trying to impress the announced crowd of 75,500, which was as raucous as Riley remembered hearing in his four-plus seasons in L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

Was Clara trying to impress the new girl?

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Tuchel said in his last press conference how King is close to a senior call-up and the midfielder has impressed for the under-21s too.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

Abrams didn’t support Conley in the primary, but she’s been impressed with her on the campaign trail.

From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026

Given the ICE raids and general denunciations of immigrants, Mohiuddin, a Muslim and Canadian immigrant, said he’s been impressed by Raman’s outreach to minority communities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

“We are impressed by how Microsoft increasingly manages AI infrastructure capacity like an investment portfolio, allocating a scarce and fungible asset toward the highest-return opportunities while considering strategic tradeoffs,” Lee writes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

“Heavy, right?” he says, nodding like I should be impressed.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

But despite impressing the likes of Stallone himself, for Ippolito -- who played a young Al Pacino in "The Offer," a mini-series chronicling the making of "The Godfather" -- the pressure was on.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

SoFi’s early 2027 forecast is impressing Wall Street.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

Indeed, Scott was so impressive that Tuchel said: "Is Declan still for me a fixed point in my team? Yes, but some other players are coming and impressing and it's an ongoing competition."

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

He was unexpectedly handed his debut in a 1-0 friendly win against New Zealand, impressing in a second-half cameo and becoming the fifth youngest player to represent the Three Lions.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

These are the qualities we admire in things that have style, for style has a way of impressing itself upon us even if we do not know what particular kind of style is involved.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

She looked at Bazarov—and stood still in the doorway; so greatly was she imprest by the inflamed and at the same time deathly face, with its dim eyes fastened upon her.

From The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. VIII (of X) - Continental Europe II. by Henry Cabot Lodge

Since Sonnets thus in bundles are imprest, And euery drudge doth dull our satiate eare, Think'st thou my loue, shall in those rags be drest That euery dowdie, euery trull doth weare?

From Minor Poems of Michael Drayton by Cyril Brett

And e’en when this beauty your bosom has blest, The brightest o’ beauty may cloy when possest; But the sweet yellow darlings wi’ Geordie imprest, The langer ye hae them—the mair they’re carest.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Robert Burns

The storied arras, source of fond delight, With old achievement charms the wilder'd sight; And still, with Heraldry's rich hues imprest, On the dim window glows the pictur'd crest.

From Poems by Samuel Rogers

I own belief may be imprest on the mind otherwise than by the force of reason.

From Answer to Dr. Priestley's Letters to a Philosophical Unbeliever by Matthew Turner

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Related Words

• affect
• awe
• excite
• faze
• inspire
• sway
• thrill
• touch

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