impinge

[ im-pinj ]

verb (used without object)

, im·pinged, im·ping·ing.

1. to make an impression; have an effect or impact (usually followed by on or upon ):

   to impinge upon the imagination; social pressures that impinge upon one's daily life.

2. to encroach; infringe (usually followed by on or upon ):

   to impinge on another's rights.

3. to strike; dash; collide (usually followed by on, upon, or against ):

   rays of light impinging on the eye.

verb (used with object)

, im·pinged, im·ping·ing.

1. Obsolete. to come into violent contact with.

impinge

/ ɪmˈpɪndʒ /

verb

1. intr; usually foll by on or upon to encroach or infringe; trespass

   to impinge on someone's time

2. intr; usually foll by on, against, or upon to collide (with); strike

Derived Forms

• imˈpinger, noun
• imˈpingement, noun

Other Words From

• im·ping·ent adjective
• im·ping·er noun
• im·pinge·ment noun
• un·im·ping·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of impinge¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Medieval Latin impingere “to strike against, drive at,” equivalent to Latin im- prefix meaning “in” ( im- ¹ ) + -pingere, combining form of pangere “to fasten, drive in, fix”; impact

Word History and Origins

Origin of impinge¹

C16: from Latin impingere to drive at, dash against, from pangere to fasten, drive in

Example Sentences

So when I see that, I knew that, Oh, I’m doing something that impinges on something personal to them, and perhaps they have been using these conventional measures.

From Freakonomics

Justice Department guidelines require approval from the attorney general to investigate or charge a member of the news media with a crime, to ensure that law enforcement does not impinge upon freedom of the press.

From Washington Post

What’s more, if my hike is already impinged by sprockets, I don’t really need them to quantify their annoyance as if doing me a grand favor.

From Outside Online

If they rule in favor of the Catholic foster mothers and CSS, they risk impinging on the rights of LGBTQ Americans—and possibly others—not just among foster agencies, but in any government-sponsored program.

From Time

A lot of rank-and-file voters will take notice when big brands speak out against measures that impinge on Americans’ right to vote.

From Time

Things are distant, but in so far as they impinge at all, not unpleasant.

From The Daily Beast

Nor does it impinge on "the fundamental right of privacy guaranteed by the United States Constitution."

From The Daily Beast

Hines's pictures don't make us feel miserable enough, for the misery of their subjects to impinge fully on us.

From The Daily Beast

What could come closer to the anti-retinal position of Duchamp than paintings so dark they can barely impinge on our retinas?

From The Daily Beast

The new guidelines do not impinge on the free-trade agreement or other agreements governing cultural and sports exchanges.

From The Daily Beast

It is strange at such times how trivial things impinge on the consciousness with a shock as of something important and immense.

From Project Gutenberg

The imagination of the line is meant to be impressed by the spectacle of the heavy mass about to impinge on it.

From Project Gutenberg

There the tone is straightened out, and made to impinge on the roof of the mouth at a precisely defined point.

From Project Gutenberg

It did not impinge on his own jealously guarded circle of activity, on his own task of bringing a fugitive to justice.

From Project Gutenberg

Is such quick acceptance found now where Easterns and Westerns impinge?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• encroach
• infringe
• intrude