impress
ihm-PREHS
Impress (verb) means to have a strong, often admiring, effect on someone. Example: “The young pianist hoped to impress the judges with her difficult piece.”
verb
1
To have a strong, often admiring, effect on someone.
"The young pianist hoped to impress the judges with her difficult piece."
"Her confidence in the interview really impressed the panel."
"He tried to impress his date by cooking an elaborate three-course meal."
2
To fix an idea firmly in someone's mind; to emphasise something strongly.
"My parents always tried to impress on me the value of honesty."
"I must impress upon you how important it is to arrive on time."
"The coach impressed upon the team the importance of discipline."
How to use impress
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make someone admire you, or to firmly plant an idea in someone's mind.
Common pairings
impress someone
impress upon
hard to impress
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Word forms
- Plural
- impresses
- Third person singular
- impresses
- Past tense
- impressed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The young pianist hoped to _____ the judges with her difficult piece.
Etymology
From Middle English impressen, from Latin imprimere ("to press into or upon"), from in- + premere ("to press").
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “impress” mean?
The word “impress” means to have a strong, often admiring, effect on someone. In plain terms, to make someone admire you, or to firmly plant an idea in someone's mind.
How do you pronounce “impress”?
“Impress” is pronounced ihm-PREHS (/ɪmˈpɹɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “impress” in a sentence?
Here is “impress” used in a sentence: “Her confidence in the interview really impressed the panel.”
What is another word for “impress”?
Words with a similar meaning to “impress” include make an impression on, confiscate, impound, seize and sequester.
What part of speech is “impress”?
“Impress” is a verb.
Where does the word “impress” come from?
The word “impress” comes from Latin. From Middle English impressen, from Latin imprimere ("to press into or upon"), from in- + premere ("to press").
Is “impress” a common word?
“Impress” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “impress” have?
“Impress” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to have a strong, often admiring, effect on someone.
What is the difference between 'impress' and 'inspire'?
To impress someone is to make them feel admiration, often for a skill or achievement. To inspire someone is to fill them with the urge to act or feel something themselves, so you can impress a person without inspiring them.
What is the difference between 'impress' and 'influence'?
Impressing someone affects how they feel about you, usually creating admiration, while influencing someone affects what they think or do. Influence tends to change behaviour, whereas impressing mainly changes opinion.
Which preposition follows 'impress' in its two main senses?
When 'impress' means to affect someone admiringly, it is used directly with an object, as in 'she impressed the judges'. When it means to emphasise, it takes 'on' or 'upon', as in 'impress the rules on them'.
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