impression

noun

im·​pres·​sion im-ˈpre-shən 

1

: the effect produced by impressing: such as

a

: an especially marked and often favorable influence or effect on feeling, sense, or mind

b

: a stamp, form, or figure resulting from physical contact

c

: an imprint of the teeth and adjacent portions of the jaw for use in dentistry

2

: an often indistinct or imprecise notion or remembrance

3

a

: a telling image impressed on the senses or the mind

b

: an effect of alteration or improvement

The settlement left little impression on the wilderness.

c

: a characteristic, trait, or feature resulting from some influence

the impression on behavior produced by the social milieu

4

: an imitation or representation of salient features in an artistic or theatrical medium

especially : an imitation in caricature of a noted personality as a form of theatrical entertainment

5

: the act of impressing: such as

a

: an affecting by stamping or pressing

b

: a communicating of a mold, trait, or character by an external force or influence

6

: page view

especially : an instance in which a specific element (such as an advertisement) is displayed on a web page accessed by a user

Although many consumers have never heard of ad tech firms, people's online activity is influenced every day by these companies as they battle for a share of ad impressions on phones, tablets, and laptops.

—Claire Ballentine

7

a

: the amount of pressure with which an inked printing surface deposits its ink on the paper

b

: one instance of the meeting of a printing surface and the material being printed

also : a single print or copy so made

c

: all the copies (as of a book) printed in one continuous operation from a single makeready

8

a

: the first coat of color in painting

b

: a coat of paint for ornament or preservation

Synonyms

• impress
• imprint
• print

Choose the Right Synonym for impression

idea, concept, conception, thought, notion, impression mean what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan).

idea may apply to a mental image or formulation of something seen or known or imagined, to a pure abstraction, or to something assumed or vaguely sensed.

innovative ideas

my idea of paradise

concept may apply to the idea formed by consideration of instances of a species or genus or, more broadly, to any idea of what a thing ought to be.

a society with no concept of private property

conception is often interchangeable with concept; it may stress the process of imagining or formulating rather than the result.

our changing conception of what constitutes art

thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

Examples of impression in a Sentence

The candidate made a favorable impression.

My first impression of him was that he was a kind and thoughtful young man.

First impressions are important but can be misleading.

In her journal, she recorded her impressions of the city.

Her kindness left a lasting impression on her students.

I got the distinct impression that they didn't mean to stay long.

Recent Examples on the Web

Reports suggest that Lee made a strong impression on WWE officials during the AAA Mega Championship bout. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

Materials That Last When choosing furniture for everyday use, materials often leave the most lasting impression, not just through appearance but through performance over time. —William Jones, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025

Throughout Earth's history, the direction of the planet's magnetic field has flipped hundreds of times, leaving subtle impressions in rocks. —Dino Grandoni The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025

That’s how Gibson and Smith both ended up in prison, each furious under the impression that the other had put them there. —Omar Jimenez, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing impression

• be under the impression

Rhymes for impression

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• obsession
• oppression
• possession

Kids Definition

impression

noun

im·​pres·​sion im-ˈpresh-ən 

1

: the act or process of impressing

2

a

: something (as a design or a footprint) made by pressing or stamping

b

: something that impresses or is impressed on one's mind

those words made a strong impression

the candidate made a good impression

3

: a memory or belief that is vague or uncertain

it's my impression that you don't have to go

4

: an imitation of a famous person done for entertainment

Medical Definition

impression

noun

im·​pres·​sion im-ˈpresh-ən 

1

: an imprint in plastic material of the surfaces of the teeth and adjacent portions of the jaw from which a likeness may be produced in dentistry

2

: an especially marked influence or effect on the senses or the mind