impressed; impressing; impresses
1
a
: to affect especially forcibly or deeply : gain the admiration or interest of
her honesty impressed us
b
: to produce a vivid impression of
2
a
: to apply with pressure so as to imprint
b
: to produce (something, such as a mark) by pressure
c
: to mark by or as if by pressure or stamping
: to produce an impression
1
: a characteristic or distinctive mark : stamp
the impress of a fresh and vital intelligence is stamped … in his work—
Lytton Strachey
Lytton Strachey2
: impression, effect
have an impress on history
3
: the act of impressing
impressed; impressing; impresses
1
: to levy or take by force for public service
especially
: to force into naval service
2
a
: to procure or enlist by forcible persuasion
b
: force
impressed him into a white coat for the Christmas festivities—Nancy Hale
Nancy HaleExamples of impress in a Sentence
Verb (1)
impressed him with the intensity of their musical performance
impressed the importance of safe driving habits by displaying photos of horrific crashes
after weeks of nagging, they impressed her into going to the masquerade party
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
There were conversations about a young striker who was impressing at Southampton called Alan Shearer.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Joel Hron, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Every candle in the collection impresses, but Côté Maquis stands out with an elusive, intoxicating aroma that’s hard to describe yet instantly captivating.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impress
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
While his girlfriend’s commitment to her studies impressed him, the man admitted that her routine had become a nightly obstacle to his rest.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
There were conversations about a young striker who was impressing at Southampton called Alan Shearer.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
The push for fully autonomous systems, agents that plan, reason, and act without human oversight, has created an automation theater where demos impress, but production systems disappoint.
—Joel Hron, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Every candle in the collection impresses, but Côté Maquis stands out with an elusive, intoxicating aroma that’s hard to describe yet instantly captivating.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impress
Cite this Entry
“Impress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impress. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impress
1 of 3 verb
im·press
im-ˈpres 
1
: to produce by stamping, pressing, or printing
2
a
: to fix in or on one's mind : produce a vivid impression of
the lesson was impressed on their minds
b
: to affect strongly or deeply
I am impressed by what you've done
also
: to gain the admiration or interest of
tries to impress people
impress
2 of 3 noun
im·press
ˈim-ˌpres
1
: the act of impressing
2
: a mark made by pressure
3
: a characteristic or special mark
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share