impression

im-PRESH-uhn/ɪmˈpɹɛʃən/

Verbimpressions, impressioning, impressioned

11 meanings of impression

1
nouncountable
The general feeling or idea that a person or thing leaves in your mind.
Like the feeling you keep after meeting someone new.
She made a good impression on her new boss.
The movie left a strong impression on the whole class.
Similartake
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2
nouncountable
A vague memory or belief about something, when you are not fully sure.
Like a blurry photo in your mind: you can see it, but not clearly.
I have an impression that we met last summer.
My impression was that the store closed early on Sundays.
Similarfeeling, sense, notion, idea, belief
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3
nouncountable
A mark or dent made when one thing presses into another.
Like the dent your head leaves in a soft pillow.
The coin left a clear impression in the soft clay.
You could still see the impression of his boot in the mud.
Similarimprint, mark, indentation, dent, mold
Note
4
nouncountable
A copy of the way someone talks or behaves, often done to make people laugh.
Like copying the way a friend walks to make others giggle.
He did a funny impression of his teacher.
Her impression of the famous singer made everyone laugh.
Similarimitation, impersonation, parody, caricature, mimicry
5
nounusually singular
The way something looks or seems from the outside.
Like a shop window: it shows a neat look on the outside.
The old building gives the impression of being empty.
Her warm smile gave the impression of someone friendly.
Similarappearance, air, semblance, illusion, image
6
nouncountable
A picture printed onto paper from an inked block or metal plate.
Like a stamp pressed onto paper, leaving its design behind.
The artist sold each impression for a small price.
She framed an impression made from a carved wood block.
Similarprint, pull
Note
7
nouncountable
All the copies of a book printed at the same time, with the same pages.
Like baking many loaves of bread from one recipe at the same time.
The first impression of the book sold out within a week.
They printed a second impression after demand grew.
Similarprinting, run
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8
nouncountable
One time that an online ad or post is shown to someone.
Like counting each person who walks past a poster on the wall.
The video ad earned an impression each time it loaded on screen.
Our banner got its first impression within seconds of going live.
Similarview, display
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9
nouncountable
A strong, clear feeling you get from something while you are sensing it, not from memory.
Like the first taste of food: strong and clear before the memory of it fades.
The bright light gave him a sharp impression of color.
She trusted the impression of warmth she felt beside the fire.
Similarsensation, perception, feeling, sense
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10
nouncountable
The first coat of paint put on a surface before the main color.
Like a white base coat that makes the next colors look bright.
They brushed an impression onto the wall before painting it blue.
The bare wood needs an impression first so the paint sticks well.
Similarprimer, undercoat, priming, ground
Oppositetopcoat
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11
verbtransitive
To rub a blank key inside a lock to mark it, so you can cut a matching key.
Like copying a shape by pressing soft clay against it.
A skilled locksmith can impression a key in just a few minutes.
They learned to impression the lock without any spare key.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin "impressio," which came into English through Old French "impression." It is like "impress" plus "-ion."