impress

1 of 4

verb (1)

im·​press im-ˈpres How to pronounce impress (audio)
impressed; impressing; impresses

transitive verb

1
a
: to affect especially forcibly or deeply : gain the admiration or interest of
her honesty impressed us
b
: to produce a vivid impression of
2
a
: to apply with pressure so as to imprint
b
: to produce (something, such as a mark) by pressure
c
: to mark by or as if by pressure or stamping
3

intransitive verb

: to produce an impression
impressibility noun
impressible adjective

impress

2 of 4

noun (1)

im·​press ˈim-ˌpres How to pronounce impress (audio)
also
im-ˈpres How to pronounce impress (audio)
1
: a characteristic or distinctive mark : stamp
the impress of a fresh and vital intelligence is stamped … in his workLytton Strachey
2
: impression, effect
have an impress on history
3
: the act of impressing
4
a
: a mark made by pressure : imprint
b
: an image of something formed by or as if by pressure
especially : seal
c
: a product of pressure or influence

impress

3 of 4

verb (2)

im·​press im-ˈpres How to pronounce impress (audio)
impressed; impressing; impresses

transitive verb

1
: to levy or take by force for public service
especially : to force into naval service
2
a
: to procure or enlist by forcible persuasion
b
: force
impressed him into a white coat for the Christmas festivitiesNancy Hale

impress

4 of 4

noun (2)

im·​press ˈim-ˌpres How to pronounce impress (audio)
also
im-ˈpres How to pronounce impress (audio)
Choose the Right Synonym for impress

affect, influence, touch, impress, strike, sway mean to produce or have an effect upon.

affect implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction.

the sight affected her to tears

influence implies a force that brings about a change (as in nature or behavior).

our beliefs are influenced by our upbringing

touch may carry a vivid suggestion of close contact and may connote stirring, arousing, or harming.

plants touched by frost
his emotions were touched by her distress

impress stresses the depth and persistence of the effect.

only one of the plans impressed him

strike, similar to but weaker than impress, may convey the notion of sudden sharp perception or appreciation.

struck by the solemnity of the occasion

sway implies the acting of influences that are not resisted or are irresistible, with resulting change in character or course of action.

politicians who are swayed by popular opinion

Examples of impress in a Sentence

Verb (1) impressed him with the intensity of their musical performance impressed the importance of safe driving habits by displaying photos of horrific crashes after weeks of nagging, they impressed her into going to the masquerade party
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
That’s how much shares of the electric vehicle giant Tesla are up since Wednesday, as its third-quarter earnings report impressed investors. Derek Saul, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Phoenix's new point guard, Tyus Jones, impressed in his Suns' debut with eight assists and no turnovers. Axios Phoenix, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
For Kim Charlson, NBC’s push towards greater inclusivity impress. Steven Aquino, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024 The 2024 Apple MacBook Air 13-inch impresses with its blend of portability and power, offering capable graphics performance within a slim, lightweight all-metal design. Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 8 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for impress 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Latin impressus, past participle of imprimere, from in- + premere to press — more at press

Verb (2)

in- entry 2 + press entry 3

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Noun (1)

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impress was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near impress

Cite this Entry

“Impress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impress. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

impress

1 of 3 verb
im·​press im-ˈpres How to pronounce impress (audio)
1
: to produce by stamping, pressing, or printing
2
a
: to fix in or on one's mind : produce a vivid impression of
the lesson was impressed on their minds
b
: to affect strongly or deeply
I am impressed by what you've done
also : to gain the admiration or interest of
tries to impress people

impress

2 of 3 noun
im·​press ˈim-ˌpres How to pronounce impress (audio)
1
: the act of impressing
2
: a mark made by pressure
3
: a characteristic or special mark
4

impress

3 of 3 verb
im·​press im-ˈpres How to pronounce impress (audio)
: to force into naval service
impressment
-mənt
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on impress

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!