impress
pronunciation
How to pronounce impress in British English: UK [ɪmˈpres]
How to pronounce impress in American English: US [ɪmˈpres]
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- Noun:
- the act of coercing someone into government service
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- Verb:
- have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
- impress positively
- produce or try to produce a vivid impression of
- mark or stamp with or as if with pressure
- reproduce by printing
- take (someone) against his will for compulsory service, especially on board a ship
- dye (fabric) before it is spun
Word Origin
- impress
- impress: see press
- impress (v.)
- late 14c., "have a strong effect on the mind or heart," from Latin impressus, past participle of imprimere "press into or upon, stamp," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + premere "to press" (see press (v.1)). Literal sense of "to apply with pressure, make a permanent image in, indent, imprint" is from early 15c. in English. Sense of "to levy for military service" is from 1590s, a meaning more from press (v.2). Related: Impressed; impressing.
- impress (n.)
- "act of impressing," also "characteristic mark," 1590s, from impress (v.).
Example
- 1. Not sure how to impress that big prospective client ?
- 2. There is no better way to impress your mom !
- 3. Quarterly results impress the stockmarket ; little else does .
- 4. His purpose is to impress .
- 5. This plan would not impress most developing countries .