What does "impression" mean?
The indentation or depression made by the pressure of one object on or into another.
Impression
/ɪmˈpɹɛʃn̩/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Very common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The indentation or depression made by the pressure of one object on or into another.
- Grammar: impression is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: belief, effect, feeling, imprint.
- Useful contrasts: environmental analysis, linguistic analysis, assessment instrument.
- Usage evidence: I didn't mean to give you that impression.
How to use "impression"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "impression" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "impression" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "impression" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "impression" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "impression" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "belief" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "impression", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The indentation or depression made by the pressure of one object on or into another. countable, uncountable
"His head made an impression on the pillow."
- 2 the act of pressing one thing on or into the surface of another wordnet
- 3 The overall effect of something, e.g., on a person. countable, uncountable
"He tried to make a good impression on his parents."
- 4 an impressionistic portrayal of a person wordnet
- 5 A vague recalling of an event, a belief. countable, uncountable
"I have the impression that he's already left for Paris."
Show 14 more definitions
- 6 (dentistry) an imprint of the teeth and gums in wax or plaster wordnet
- 7 An impersonation, an imitation of the mannerisms of another individual. countable, uncountable
- 8 an outward appearance wordnet
- 9 An outward appearance. countable, uncountable
- 10 a vague idea in which some confidence is placed wordnet
- 11 A performance metric representing an instance where a post or ad is shown once. Internet, countable, uncountable
"Publishers are paid for each ad impression their site generates."
- 12 a clear and telling mental image wordnet
- 13 The first coat of colour, such as the priming in house-painting etc. countable, uncountable
- 14 all the copies of a work printed at one time wordnet
- 15 A print on paper from a wood block, metal plate, etc. countable, uncountable
- 16 a symbol that is the result of printing or engraving wordnet
- 17 The vivid perception of something as it is experienced, in contrast to ideas or thoughts drawn from memory or the imagination. countable, uncountable
"Let us, therefore, use a little freedom, and call them Impressions; employing that word in a sense somewhat different from the usual. By the term impression, then, I mean all our more lively perceptions, when we hear, or see, or feel, or love, or hate, or desire, or will. And impressions are distinguished from ideas, which are the less lively perceptions, of which we are conscious, when we reflect on any of those sensations or movements above mentioned."
- 18 a concavity in a surface produced by pressing wordnet
- 19 set of copies of a publication printed at one time having the same content, layout, pagination, etc. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To manipulate a blank key within a lock so as to mark it with impressions of the shape of the lock, which facilitates creation of a duplicate key.
"The trick in impressioning a key is to remove only a small amount of the blank, by filing or cutting, from the pin positions where impressions have been left."
Antonyms
Example
"I didn't mean to give you that impression."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "impression"?
Common synonyms include: belief, effect, feeling, imprint, notion, printing.
How do you use "impression" in a sentence?
I didn't mean to give you that impression.
How do you pronounce "impression"?
Pronounced /ɪmˈpɹɛʃn̩/.
Etymology
From Old French impression, from Latin impressio. Equivalent to impress + -ion.