impress

¹

[ verb im-pres; noun im-pres ]

verb (used with object)

, im·pressed or (Archaic) im·prest; im·pres·sing.

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.

verb (used without object)

, im·pressed or (Archaic) im·prest; im·pres·sing.

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

[ verb im-pres; noun im-pres ]

verb (used with object)

, im·pressed or (Archaic) im·prest; im·pres·sing.

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.

noun

1. impressment.

impress

¹

verb

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

noun

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

impress

²

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

noun

1. the act or an instance of impressing
2. a mark, imprint, or effect produced by impressing

Derived Forms

• imˈpresser, noun
• imˈpressible, adjective

Other Words From

• im·presser noun

Word History and Origins

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”; im- ¹, press ¹, print

Origin of impress²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of impress¹

C16: see im- in- ², press ²

Origin of impress²

C14: from Latin imprimere to press into, imprint, from premere to press ¹

Example Sentences

Since he doesn't have to impress me, it's clearly a little show for Alma.

From The Daily Beast

A new reality series spotlights the extent people will go to impress a crush—from pretending to be deaf to committing theft.

From The Daily Beast

Hannigan pretended to be a basketball pro in order to impress a hot guy she had a crush on—only she had never played basketball.

From The Daily Beast

“He spent most of his time trying to impress me,” Campbell tells Piazza about a meeting with Ryan.

From The Daily Beast

[Your superiors] become the people you most want to impress—and this is how you do it.

From The Daily Beast

We have to remember that his daily life, where the home is orderly, helps to impress on him regularity of form.

From Project Gutenberg

Ramona herself bore no impress of sorrow; rather her face had now an added radiance.

From Project Gutenberg

He took both her hands between his as he spoke; not so much, it seemed in affection, as to impress solemnity upon her.

From Project Gutenberg

This glow of feeling and exhilaration gave a new impress of sweetness and fascination to her beauty.

From Project Gutenberg

Almost all the variety of the landscape is due to this impress of water action which has operated on the surface in past ages.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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