impressive
- 01 B1 Intermediate
making you feel admiration because something is very good, large, or important.
evoking admiration through size, quality, or skill. This is the primary modern sense used in general contexts.
Simple“The view from the top of the mountain was truly impressive.”
In context“The candidate's impressive track record in international finance made her the clear choice for the executive position.”
Synonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
able to be pressed or marked by something.
capable of being impressed or receiving a physical mark or stamp. Used primarily in technical or material science contexts.
Simple“The soft clay was very impressive, showing every detail of the leaf.”
In context“The wax remained impressive for several minutes after heating, allowing the notary to apply the official seal with perfect clarity.”
UsageIn modern English, this physical sense is rare outside of technical descriptions of materials.
impress + -ive
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.