impressive
ihm-PREH-sihv
Impressive (adj) means causing admiration because of size, skill, quality, or achievement. Example: “The view from the summit was truly impressive.”
adj
1
Causing admiration because of size, skill, quality, or achievement.
"The view from the summit was truly impressive."
"She gave an impressive performance despite the pressure."
"The cathedral's tall stone arches are impressive, even from far away."
How to use impressive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that makes you admire it because it's so good, big, or skilfully done.
Common pairings
impressive display
impressive feat
truly impressive
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like impressive.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more impressive
- Superlative
- most impressive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The view from the summit was truly _____.
Etymology
From impress + the adjective-forming suffix -ive.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for impressive
See all rhymes for impressive →Frequently asked questions
What does “impressive” mean?
The word “impressive” means causing admiration because of size, skill, quality, or achievement. In plain terms, something that makes you admire it because it's so good, big, or skilfully done.
How do you pronounce “impressive”?
“Impressive” is pronounced ihm-PREH-sihv (/ɪmˈpɹɛsɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “impressive” in a sentence?
Here is “impressive” used in a sentence: “The view from the summit was truly impressive.”
What is the opposite of “impressive”?
The opposite of “impressive” — its antonyms — is unimpressive.
What part of speech is “impressive”?
“Impressive” is an adjective.
Is “impressive” a common word?
“Impressive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is an example of impressive?
Impressive describes something that earns admiration through its size, skill, quality, or achievement. Examples include an impressive performance, an impressive view from a mountain, impressive exam results, or an impressive new building. In each case the thing stands out enough to make people take notice and admire it.
Is impressive a positive word?
Yes. Impressive is firmly positive and expresses admiration or respect. Calling someone's work impressive is a genuine compliment about its quality, scale, or skill. Just occasionally it is used with mild sarcasm to mean the opposite, but its normal, everyday meaning is clearly favourable.
What is the difference between impressive and imposing?
Impressive means admirable because of quality, skill, or achievement, and it is generally positive. Imposing describes something grand and large enough to command respect or even feel slightly intimidating, usually about size or presence. A cathedral can be both impressive in its beauty and imposing in its sheer scale.
What is the opposite of impressive?
The opposite of impressive is unimpressive, ordinary, or disappointing. Where impressive earns admiration, its opposites fail to stand out or fall short of expectations. Words like mediocre, forgettable, and underwhelming all describe things that leave people unmoved rather than impressed.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include impressive:
