impression
impression — noun
1. Your thoughts or feelings about someone or something, based on how they seem to
Your thoughts or feelings about someone or something, based on how they seem to you rather than on detailed study or long experience.
Christopher's first impression of the new school was more positive than he had expected.
first impression of — opinion formed on first meeting or experience
Jiwoo asked her classmates for their impressions of the art exhibition.
impressions of — plural form when collecting multiple opinions
Adina formed the strong impression that the manager was completely trustworthy.
What was your overall impression of the candidate after meeting her?
Dewi's general impression of the neighbourhood improved after she talked to her neighbours.
文法句型
impression + of + noun phrase
impression + that-clause
first impression + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'first' (first impression) when describing the initial view formed before deeper knowledge. The plural 'impressions' is common when collecting feedback from multiple people.
常見錯誤
2. A belief you hold about how things are, which later turns out to have been mista
A belief you hold about how things are, which later turns out to have been mistaken.
David was under the impression that the train left at six, not seven.
under the impression that — fixed phrase for mistaken beliefs
Joon got the impression that nobody was interested in his idea.
get the impression that — receiving a belief from what you observe
The tourists were under the false impression that the market was open all night.
Please do not get the wrong impression — I am not angry, just tired.
- certainty
impression in this sense always lacks full certainty
文法句型
under the impression + that-clause
get the impression + that-clause
wrong/false impression + that-clause
用法筆記
The phrase 'under the impression (that)' is nearly always used when the belief is incorrect or incomplete. 'Get the impression' can describe either a correct or incorrect belief depending on context.
常見錯誤
3. The general effect or quality that a person, place, situation, or experience pro
The general effect or quality that a person, place, situation, or experience produces in your mind or on your senses.
The warm lighting and soft music created a calm and welcoming impression.
create/make an impression — the effect intentionally or unintentionally produced
Ignacio's steady voice gave the impression that he was completely prepared.
The hotel made a terrible first impression with its dirty lobby and unfriendly staff.
Aylin's warm smile left a lasting impression on everyone she met during the conference.
The garden's beauty left a strong impression on Ritu, so she painted it.
文法句型
make/create + impression + on + person
give the impression + that-clause
leave a + adjective + impression
用法筆記
This sense overlaps with sense 1 (OPINION FORMED), but focuses on the outward effect produced by the subject (person/place/thing) rather than the observer's internal judgment. The subject is often the grammatical cause of the impression: 'The speech made an impression' rather than 'I formed an impression.'
常見錯誤
4. A performance in which you deliberately copy someone else's voice, gestures, or
A performance in which you deliberately copy someone else's voice, gestures, or way of speaking, usually in order to entertain people.
The comedian did a spot-on impression of the mayor that had the audience in stitches.
do an impression of — the standard verb + noun phrase for this sense
Ezra is brilliant at impressions and can mimic almost any celebrity's voice.
A student did a funny and respectful impression of the head teacher at the show.
The party guests asked Jiwoo to do her impression of the popular singer.
文法句型
do an impression + of + person
impression + of + person
用法筆記
Unlike other senses, this sense is always deliberate — the performer intends to be recognised as copying a specific person. It is typically used in entertainment contexts (comedy, parties, talent shows).
5. A hollow or raised shape left on a surface when something is pressed firmly into
A hollow or raised shape left on a surface when something is pressed firmly into it.
The wet coffee cup left a circular impression on the wooden table.
leave an impression on — physical mark left by pressure
The detective found a deep boot impression in the muddy ground near the fence.
The dentist took an impression of the patient's upper teeth to make a new crown.
Tiny impressions from the cat's paws marked the fresh concrete on the driveway.
- indentation
more formal; impression is more common in everyday speech
- dent
suggests damage from impact; impression is neutral
- imprint
very close in meaning; impression often suggests a shallower mark
文法句型
impression + in + surface
impression + on + surface
leave + an impression
用法筆記
This sense is the literal, physical origin of the word. Common in forensic, dental, and manufacturing contexts. In everyday speech, 'mark' or 'dent' is more frequent.
6. The total number of units of a publication produced during one press run, with n
The total number of units of a publication produced during one press run, with no alterations made to the content.
The publisher ordered only two thousand copies for the first impression of the poetry collection.
first impression — the initial batch of printed copies
This textbook is from the third impression, with no changes since the second.
Collectors value the first impression of a novel far more than later reprints.
The bookshop ordered extra copies when the fourth impression sold out within a month.
文法句型
first/second/third + impression
impression + of + number + copies
用法筆記
In publishing, 'impression' is distinct from 'edition': an edition involves changes to the content, while an impression is just a reprint. Collectors and booksellers use 'first impression' to indicate the earliest print run of a first edition.
常見錯誤
❌ 'This is the first impression of the revised edition.' — This mixes two concepts. A revised edition has its own first impression. Use 'first impression of the second edition' for clarity.
7. A single instance of a webpage, online advertisement, or piece of digital conten
A single instance of a webpage, online advertisement, or piece of digital content being viewed or loaded by a user.
The marketing team reported that the banner ad received over 80,000 impressions in the first week.
ad impressions / page impressions — countable units in digital metrics
Online advertisers pay based on the number of impressions their ads generate across different websites.
Zola checked the campaign dashboard and saw that each post had earned about 15,000 impressions.
A high number of impressions does not always mean people clicked on the advertisement.
文法句型
ad/page + impressions
number + impressions
用法筆記
An impression counts every time content loads on a screen, even if the user does not interact with it. It is a standard metric in digital marketing, distinct from 'clicks' or 'conversions.'