impress
1 of 4verb (1)
im·press im-ˈpres 
impressed; impressing; impresses
transitive verb
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
3
: transfer, transmit
intransitive verb
: to produce an impression
impressibility
im-ˌpre-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun impressible
im-ˈpre-sə-bəl
adjective impress
2 of 4noun (1)
im·press ˈim-ˌpres
also
im-ˈpres 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
4
a
: a mark made by pressure : imprint
b
: an image of something formed by or as if by pressure
especially : seal
c
: a product of pressure or influence
impress
3 of 4verb (2)
im·press im-ˈpres
impressed; impressing; impresses
transitive verb
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 Haleimpress
4 of 4noun (2)
im·press ˈim-ˌpres
also
im-ˈpres : impressment
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- affect
- impact
- influence
- move
- reach
- strike
- sway
- tell (on)
- touch
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English, from Latin impressus, past participle of imprimere, from in- + premere to press — more at press
Verb (2)
in- entry 2 + press entry 3
First Known Use
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a
Noun (1)
1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1602, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
impress
verb
im·press im-ˈpres
impressed; impressing
1
: to produce by stamping, pressing, or printing
impress a design
2
: to affect strongly or deeply and especially favorably
Her talent impressed me.
3
: to give a clear idea of
She impressed on us her concerns.
impressing
verb
1
as in influencing
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response impressed him with the intensity of their musical performance Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- influencing
- affecting
- impacting
- striking
- touching
- interesting
- reaching
- inspiring
- swaying
- attracting
- bothering
- involving
- moving
- dazzling
- concerning
- fascinating
- disturbing
- ravishing
- worrying
- penetrating
- getting to
- entrancing
- harassing
- engaging
- enthralling
- enchanting
- upsetting
- troubling
- biasing
- stressing
- transporting
- enrapturing
- stirring
- trying
- plaguing
- telling (on)
- pestering
- charming
- captivating
- afflicting
- alluring
- perturbing
- smiting
- carrying away
- distressing
- harrying
- disquieting
- bewitching
- coloring
- piercing
- discomforting
- flustering
- agitating
- biassing
- wringing
- straining
- discomposing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tiring
- boring
- palling
- wearying
- jading
- underwhelming
2
as in engraving
to produce a vivid impression of impressed the importance of safe driving habits by displaying photos of horrific crashes Synonyms & Similar Words
- engraving
- etching
- imprinting
- imbuing
- branding
- inculcating
- instilling
- infusing
- infixing
- ingraining
- engraining
- implanting
- stamping
- setting
- fixing
- enrooting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obliterating
- erasing
- expunging
- blotting out
3
as in coercing
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure after weeks of nagging, they impressed her into going to the masquerade party Synonyms & Similar Words
- coercing
- forcing
- compelling
- obliging
- obligating
- pressuring
- driving
- intimidating
- constraining
- blackmailing
- making
- pressing
- muscling
- impelling
- dragooning
- browbeating
- terrorizing
- cowing
- threatening
- sandbagging
- harassing
- bullying
- blackjacking
- badgering
- dragging
- hectoring
- bulldozing
- menacing
- shaming
- twisting one's arm
- hounding
- high-pressuring
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- letting
- allowing
- permitting
- moving
- satisfying
- inducing
- arguing
- talking (into)
- convincing
- persuading
- prevailing (on or upon)
- winning (over)
- precommitments
- precompetitive
- precompose
- precomposed
- precomposes
- precomposing
- precompute
- precomputed
- precomputer
- precomputers
- precomputes
- precomputing
- preconceive
- preconceived
- preconceives
- preconceiving
- preconcept
- preconception
- preconceptions
- preconceptual
- preconcert
- preconcerted
- preconcertedly
- preconcertedness
- preconcerting