imposing
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of imposing
Explanation
Imposing is an adjective reserved for those things that are impressive in the sense that they are large or serious, as in the US Capitol Building or even, say, a professional wrestler. When you look at the word imposing you see the word pose, which is useful in remembering what it means. A person who is imposing might strike a pose because they feel they have a lot to show. In fact, imposing is derived from the French verb imposer, which means "to inflict." Its French roots may inspire you to envision the enormous and expensive wigs worn by members of the French court. The larger the wig, the more imposing it was. And all the more reason to strike a pose!
Vocabulary lists containing imposing
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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!
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 3
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!
An "August" Assortment: Words Worthy of Honor
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.
Occasionally, cinematographer Ben Davis even lines up those centuries-old face carvings behind Malkovich to note their resemblance to his imposing profile.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
Justice Neil Gorsuch similarly said that he was “struggling” to see how imposing strict scrutiny, rather than applying the less burdensome rational basis standard, would “be the end of the world.”
From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2026
Arteta values physicality in his Arsenal side and moving Konsa, who is physically imposing, to right-back would give opposition attackers a formidable challenge.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
“The Sovereign AI movement is imposing the most dramatic dichotomy between haves and have nots that I have witnessed in 30 years of business,” Karp says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
"A castle...I can see the moat from here...and on the other side, three or four imposing turrets."
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
