The meaning of IMPRESSIVE is making or tending to make a marked impression : having the power to excite attention, awe, or admiration. How to use impressive in a sentence.

IMPRESSIVE definition: 1. If an object or achievement is impressive, you admire or respect it, usually because it is…. Learn more.

IMPRESSIVE definition: having the ability to impress the mind; arousing admiration, awe, respect, etc.; moving; admirable. See examples of impressive used in a sentence.

Making a strong positive impression; inspiring admiration or awe: an impressive achievement.

Impressive is used to describe people or things which impress you. The film's special effects are particularly impressive. Capable of impressing, esp by size, magnificence, etc; awe-inspiring; …

Definition of impressive adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective impressive, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025 im•pres•sive (im pres′ iv), adj. having the ability to impress the mind; arousing admiration, awe, respect, etc.; moving; …

So something that's impressive does just that, like the impressive feat of running a marathon every week for a year. The earliest meaning of impressive was "capable of being easily impressed," from the …

IMPRESSIVE meaning: deserving attention, admiration, or respect making a good impression