impression

noun

im-ˈpre-shən How to pronounce impression (audio)
Definition of impressionnext
1
as in impress
a perceptible trace left by pressure a shoe impression in the dirt that could lead police to the culprit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in idea
something imagined or pictured in the mind had a vague impression that the guide would be female

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun impression contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of impression are conception, concept, idea, notion, and thought. While all these words mean "what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan)," impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

When might concept be a better fit than impression?

While in some cases nearly identical to impression, 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

How are the words conception and concept related as synonyms of impression?

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

When would idea be a good substitute for impression?

While the synonyms idea and impression are close in meaning, 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

When can notion be used instead of impression?

In some situations, the words notion and impression are roughly equivalent. However, notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

Where would thought be a reasonable alternative to impression?

Although the words thought and impression have much in common, thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impression Compare the look of the Notification Center in iOS 26 and macOS 26—the iOS 26 bubbles really do have the appearance of thin sheets of lightly frosted glass, where the macOS bubbles just give you the vaguest impression of what's lying underneath them. —ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025 Because Zainab Johnson has such a masterful sense of poise, the initial impression of her comedy is of high-polish professionalism. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025 Recovered evidence includes a bolt-action rifle and forensic impressions lifted from the rooftop, including palm and forearm imprints and footwear marks. —Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025 For anyone whose impression of Mexico has been shaped only by resorts or tourism towns, Mérida offers something different. —Chantelle Kincy, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impression
  1. impress
  2. idea
  3. imprint
  4. thought
  5. print
  6. concept
  7. conception
  8. notion
Noun
  • All Emmitt Finnie has done is impress at every Red Wings prospect event since he was drafted.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Will this summer program impress admissions officers or blend in with others?
    — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Definition of impress
Noun
  • As a public institution, UVU upholds First Amendment rights and fosters an environment where ideas – popular or controversial – can be exchanged freely, energetically, and civilly.
    — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Some ideas came from experience.
    — Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of idea
Noun
  • When graduates arrive hesitant to question assumptions, collaborate across differences, or challenge authority, companies see the cultural imprint of campuses that reward conformity over curiosity.
    — Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Because protons and neutrons are shielded from many environmental disturbances, those transitions may carry the subtle imprint of dark matter.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of imprint
Noun
  • Here, though, the research team is trying to model people’s thoughts on financial policy, which is why the enumerated outcomes include initial rate recommendations, made up of a preferred policy rate, a confidence score, and a summary.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Lauren, 40, then chimed in with her own thoughts on what makes their relationship work after all these years.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of thought
Noun
  • Nancy Mitford, an outspoken Socialist, wrote bestselling biographies and comic novels, most famously The Pursuit of Love, which has never been out of print.
    — Mimi Pond, People.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The song sold over 3 million copies and remains in print today.
    — Sarah Biegelsen, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of print
Noun
  • In 2020, however, Biglari’s criticism of Cracker Barrel was reignited after the company’s $133 million investment in Punch Bowl Social, a bar and entertainment concept, in 2019, failed during the pandemic.
    — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
  • In his new concept, Metropolis, located at the World Trade Center campus, his team is made up entirely of women of color in leadership roles.
    — Janee Bolden, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of concept
Noun
  • This disastrously cramped conception of who gets to have a day in court would be the main target of my outrage if the court’s opinion on the use of ethnicity, language and workplace as factors in immigration enforcement weren’t even more upsetting.
    — Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Political theorist Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937), an Italian anti-fascist journalist, organizer, and imprisoned political dissident, offered a conception of society and described the possibilities for changing social orders.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of conception
Noun
  • But these teachings challenge any notion of hoarding resources for oneself—or one’s precious group—at the expense of others in need.
    — John Fugelsang September 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
  • But the notion that the president himself is the leader of Tren de Aragua is a bit of stretch, according to Ronna Rísquez, the author of the book El Tren de Aragua.
    — Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of notion

Browse Nearby Words

impressing
impression
impressionability
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Cite this Entry

“Impression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impression. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on impression

Nglish: Translation of impression for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about impression

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