Impressed

/ɪmˈprɛst/

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonEmotion
3 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

To cause someone to feel admiration or respect.

/ɪmˈprɛst/

verbpositiveBeginner
Emotion

To affect someone favorably or strongly.

Her performance in the play impressed everyone.

💡 Simply: When something really wows you and makes you think, 'Wow, that's amazing!' Like when you see a really cool magic trick or try a delicious new food.

👶 For kids: When something is so good that it makes you happy and surprised.

More Examples

2

The company's dedication to sustainability impressed the investors.

3

I was very impressed with his knowledge of history.

How It's Used

General conversation

"The chef's new dish really impressed the judges."

Business

"The client was impressed by the proposal."

2

To create a mark or design by pressing an object onto a surface.

/ɪmˈprɛst/

verbneutralmedium
Action

To mark or stamp a design or pattern on a surface.

The seal impressed the king's initials onto the document.

💡 Simply: To make a mark or design by pushing something onto something else, like making a pattern in playdough with a toy.

👶 For kids: To make a mark on something by pushing it.

More Examples

2

The sculptor impressed the leaf pattern into the wet concrete.

3

She impressed her thumbprint onto the clay.

How It's Used

Printing

"The printer impressed the logo onto the paper."

Art

"The artist impressed the pattern into the clay."

Tip:Think of 'imprinting' something onto a surface with pressure.
3

Feeling admiration or respect.

/ɪmˈprɛst/

adjectivepositiveBeginner
Emotion

Affected favorably or strongly by something; filled with admiration.

The audience was deeply impressed by the speaker's charisma.

💡 Simply: Feeling really good and surprised because something was great. Like when your favorite team wins a big game!

👶 For kids: When you like something a lot and think it's really good.

More Examples

2

The committee was impressed by the candidate's qualifications.

3

I was impressed with how well the project was executed.

How It's Used

General conversation

"She was genuinely impressed with the artwork."

Review/Critique

"The critics were impressed with the film's originality."

Tip:Think of the feeling when you 'press' a good memory into your mind.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

to be impressed with/by

To feel admiration or respect because of something.

"I was really impressed with the presentation."

leave an impression

To have an effect on someone or something.

"The new employee left a good impression on the team."

From Middle English impressen, from Old French empresser, from Late Latin impressare (“to press in, stamp”), from Latin imprimere (“to press into”).

Historically, the word was used in military contexts to describe conscripting soldiers (impressment).

Memory tip

Think of the feeling you get when something is 'pressed' or etched into your memory because it's so good.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to press in, stamp"

deeply impressedgenuinely impressedimpressed with/byeasily impressedfirst impressions

Common misspellings

imprestedimpressd

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written