English Lexicon

Impressive

/ɪmˈprɛsɪv/
adjectiveCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #800 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As adjective
  1. 1

    Having a strong effect on someone; evoking admiration through size, quality, or skill.

    "The artist's latest sculpture is truly impressive, drawing crowds from all over the city."
  2. 2

    Capable of impressing; making a lasting impression.

    "Her impressive resume secured her an interview with the top firm."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'impressive' originates from the Latin 'impressus', meaning 'to press into or upon'. It evolved through Middle French 'impressif', which carried the sense of making a strong impact, leading to its current usage in English since the early 19th century.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Impressive"?

Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Impressive"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Impressive" Synonym Map