# impressed

/ˌɪmˈpɹɛst/ (US) · /ɪmpɹˈɛst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/impressed
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. feeling admiration

adjective · CEFR B1

feeling admiration or respect for someone because of their skills or qualities.

For teachers: affected by a strong, usually favourable, impression; feeling admiration or respect.

- My boss was very impressed with my presentation and offered me a promotion.
- The recruiters were visibly impressed by her ability to handle complex technical questions without prior preparation.

Usage: Commonly followed by the prepositions 'with' or 'by'.

### 2. stamped or marked

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

having a mark or pattern pressed into a surface.

For teachers: bearing a mark, image, or design produced by pressure or stamping.

- The wax seal showed an impressed image of a lion.
- The archaeologist identified the pottery's origin by examining the impressed patterns along the rim of the vessel.

### 3. forced into service

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

forced to join the army or navy against your will.

For teachers: compelled to serve in a military or naval force, typically by a press gang.

- In the 18th century, many impressed sailors tried to escape from their ships.
- The historical record details the plight of impressed men who were seized from merchant vessels to bolster the Royal Navy's numbers during the conflict.

Teaching tip: This sense is almost exclusively found in historical contexts, particularly regarding the British Navy.

## Examples

- I am very impressed by your hard work.
- The hiring manager was deeply impressed with her portfolio and offered her the job on the spot.
- Although the critics were initially skeptical, they were ultimately impressed by the director's bold visual style and the lead actor's nuanced performance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.