impress
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Middle English impressen, from Latin impressus, perfect passive participle of imprimere (“to press into or upon, stick, stamp, or dig into”), from in (“in, upon”) + premere (“to press”).
Verb [edit]
impress (third-person singular simple present impresses, present participle impressing, simple past and past participle impressed)
- (transitive) To affect (someone) strongly and often favourably
- You impressed me with your command of Urdu.
- (intransitive) To make an impression, to be impressive.
- Henderson impressed in his first game as captain.
- 2012 September 7, Phil McNulty, “Moldova 0-5 England”, BBC Sport:
- Manchester United's Tom Cleverley impressed on his first competitive start and Lampard demonstrated his continued worth at international level in a performance that was little more than a stroll once England swiftly exerted their obvious authority.
- (transitive) To produce a vivid impression of (something)
- That first view of the Eiger impressed itself on my mind.
- (transitive) To mark or stamp (something) using pressure
- We impressed our footprints in the wet cement.
- (transitive) To compel (someone) to serve in a military force
- The press gang used to impress people into the Navy.
- (transitive) To seize or confiscate (property) by force
- The liner was impressed as a troop carrier.
Pronunciation [edit]
- (verb)
enPR: ĭmprĕsʹ, IPA: /ɪmˈprɛs/, X-SAMPA: /Im"prEs/Audio (US) (file) - (noun)
enPR: ĭmʹprĕs, IPA: /ˈɪmprɛs/, X-SAMPA: /"ImprEs/Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɛs
Synonyms [edit]
- (transitive: affect strongly and often favourably): make an impression on
- (intransitive: make an impression, be impressive): cut a figure
- (produce a vivid impression of):
- (mark or stamp (something) using pressure): imprint, print, stamp
- (compel (someone) to serve in a military force):: pressgang
- (seize or confiscate (property) by force):: confiscate, impound, seize, sequester
Translations [edit]
(transitive) affect (someone) strongly and often favourably
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(intransitive) make an impression
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produce a vivid impression of
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mark or stamp (something) using pressure
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seize or confiscate (property) by force
Noun [edit]
impress (plural impresses)
- The act of impressing
- An impression, and impressed image or copy of something
- 1908, Arthur Conan Doyle, ‘The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans’, Norton 2005, p. 1330:
- We know that you were pressed for money, that you took an impress of the keys which your brother held [...].
- 1908, Arthur Conan Doyle, ‘The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans’, Norton 2005, p. 1330:
- A stamp or seal used to make an impression
- An impression on the mind, imagination etc.
- 2007, John Burrow, A History of Histories, Penguin 2009, p. 187:
- Such admonitions, in the English of the Authorized Version, left an indelible impress on imaginations nurtured on the Bible [...].
- 2007, John Burrow, A History of Histories, Penguin 2009, p. 187:
Pronunciation [edit]
Translations [edit]
act of impressing
Related terms [edit]
External links [edit]
- impress in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- impress in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- impress at OneLook Dictionary Search
