Impress
/ɪmˈpres/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo cause someone to feel admiration, respect, or other positive emotions.
/ɪmˈpres/
To make someone feel admiration or respect; to affect favorably or powerfully.
The performance of the orchestra greatly impressed the audience.
💡 Simply: When you 'impress' someone, you make them think you're great! Like when you show off your awesome dance moves, or when you help a friend. It's all about showing them how cool or helpful you are.
👶 For kids: To make someone think you are good or special.
More Examples
She hoped to impress her date with her cooking skills.
The teacher was impressed by the student's hard work.
How It's Used
"His speech greatly impressed the audience."
"The candidate impressed the interviewers with her skills."
"The artist's work impressed the critics."
To create a mark or design on a surface by pressing something onto it.
/ɪmˈpres/
To make a mark or design on a surface by pressing something onto it.
The seal was used to impress the royal emblem onto the document.
💡 Simply: To leave a mark on something, like when you press your fingers into playdough, or when a stamp leaves its image on paper.
👶 For kids: To make a mark or shape on something by pushing it in.
More Examples
They impressed the pattern into the clay before baking it.
The dentist will impress the teeth to create the perfect mold.
How It's Used
"The printing press was used to impress the letters onto the paper."
"The archaeologist impressed a mold of the artifact onto the clay."
To force someone into service.
/ɪmˈpres/
To force someone into service, especially military service.
In the 18th century, the British navy would impress sailors into service.
💡 Simply: To make someone do something they don't want to, like forcing them to join the army. It's like a very strong, not-so-nice type of 'persuading'.
👶 For kids: To make someone do a job they don't want to do.
More Examples
The soldiers were impressed into the army against their will.
The historical accounts detail the impressment of locals into hard labor.
How It's Used
"The navy would impress sailors to work on their ships."
"In historical novels, they would depict the impressment of people into service."
Synonyms
From Middle French *impresser*, from Latin *imprimere* 'to press into, to imprint', from *in-* 'in, into' + *premere* 'to press'.
Historically, the word was used to describe forcible recruitment into military service, particularly in maritime contexts.
Memory tip
Imagine pressing a positive feeling onto someone's heart.