impressions
impressions — noun
- impressionssingular
- impressionsesplural
1. a picture in your mind of what someone or something is like, built from the thin
a picture in your mind of what someone or something is like, built from the things you have noticed — even if you do not have all the facts
Femi's first impression of the city was that it felt safe and welcoming.
collocation: first impression
Wren got the impression that the manager was not interested in hiring new staff.
get the impression + that-clause
The photos gave Liang a false impression of how large the flat really was.
Shirin tried hard to make a good impression at her first job interview.
Eli's impression of the new teacher changed completely after the first week of lessons.
- notion
more abstract and less tied to direct experience than 'impression'
- perception
more formal; often used about how senses or mind process things
- feeling
more emotional and less based on observation than 'impression'
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'first', 'good', 'bad', 'false', and 'wrong'. The phrase 'make an impression' means to cause others to form an opinion about you, often by how you dress or behave.
2. a thought or idea you hold, which later turns out to be wrong — almost always us
a thought or idea you hold, which later turns out to be wrong — almost always used in the phrase 'be under the impression'
Kasia was under the impression that the meeting started at ten o'clock.
be under the impression that...
Hana had the impression that the deadline was Friday, not Wednesday.
Sofia laboured under the impression that her flight left on Tuesday, not Monday.
Nicholas had the mistaken impression that the exam was next week.
- misconception
more formal; often used about widely held wrong ideas
- misapprehension
formal; emphasises a failure to understand correctly
文法句型
be under the impression that...
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: here the belief is wrong. 'Be under the impression' nearly always signals that what follows is not true. The phrase 'I was under the impression that...' is a polite way to point out a misunderstanding.
常見錯誤
3. the effect or appearance that something produces in a person's mind or feelings
the effect or appearance that something produces in a person's mind or feelings — the way it comes across
The dark walls and soft lights created an impression of warmth in the small room.
create an impression of + noun
Aarav's speech left a strong impression on everyone who listened that evening.
leave an impression on + person
The hotel gave the impression of being far more expensive than it really was.
Shanti wanted the whole event to convey an impression of simple, quiet confidence.
The garden's wild flowers made an impression of natural beauty without any effort.
- effect
broader — can be physical or measurable, not just mental
- impact
stronger and more forceful than 'impression'
- appearance
focuses on how something looks, not the feeling it creates
文法句型
create an impression of + noun
leave an impression on + person
用法筆記
Common verbs used with this sense: create, leave, give, convey, and make. 'Create an impression' suggests a deliberate effort; 'leave an impression' emphasises a lasting effect.
4. a performance in which you copy the way someone talks, moves, and behaves, usual
a performance in which you copy the way someone talks, moves, and behaves, usually for comic effect
Femi does a brilliant impression of the prime minister at family dinners.
do an impression of + person
Liang had everyone at the table laughing with his impressions of famous singers.
Shirin's impression of her strict English teacher made the whole class cry with laughter.
At the party, Wren stood up and performed impressions of several well-known film actors.
- impersonation
more formal and serious — may not be for comedy
- imitation
broader; can be flattering or neutral, not necessarily a performance
- mimicry
focuses on copying sounds or movements, often for amusement
文法句型
do an impression of + person
perform impressions of + person
用法筆記
The verb 'do' is the most natural choice: 'do an impression of someone'. 'Make an impression' means something different (sense 1 or 3). Usually plural ('impressions') when talking about the skill in general.
常見錯誤
5. a shape or dent left in a surface when an object has been pressed into it
a shape or dent left in a surface when an object has been pressed into it
The cat left deep impressions of its paws in the wet cement on the path.
leave impressions in + surface
Kasia pressed her ring into the wax and studied the impression it left behind.
The tyres made clear impressions in the soft mud along the side of the lane.
Eli found the impression of a key on his palm after gripping it tightly.
The fossil held the faint impression of a leaf that fell millions of years ago.
- imprint
very close in meaning; often used for deliberate marks like stamps or logos
- indentation
more technical; emphasises the hollow or dip in the surface
- dent
informal; typically for accidental damage to metal or hard surfaces
文法句型
leave an impression in + surface
make an impression in + surface
用法筆記
This is the most concrete, physical sense of 'impression'. In everyday speech, people more often use 'mark', 'print', or 'dent' for this meaning — 'impression' sounds slightly more formal or technical.
6. every copy of a title produced during a single print run, with no alterations to
every copy of a title produced during a single print run, with no alterations to the text between them
The library owns a first impression of that novel, printed over sixty years ago.
first impression (publishing sense)
The publisher ordered a second impression of the cookbook after sales jumped.
A third impression of the textbook came out with no corrections to the text.
Nicholas collects rare first impressions of twentieth-century poetry from small presses.
用法筆記
Used only in publishing. An 'impression' is different from an 'edition': a new edition has changes to the content, while a new impression is just another print run of the same version.
7. a single time that a web page, advertisement, or piece of content is shown on a
a single time that a web page, advertisement, or piece of content is shown on a screen — counted even if the person does not click on it
The video got over two million impressions in its first day on the platform.
impressions = online views (marketing metric)
The ad campaign generated fifty thousand impressions but very few actual clicks.
Sofia tracks the impressions on her blog posts to see which topics readers enjoy.
The website recorded more than a hundred thousand impressions during the holiday sale.
用法筆記
A technical term from digital advertising and analytics. An impression counts every time content appears on a screen, regardless of whether the user interacts with it. Often contrasted with 'clicks' or 'engagements'.