Cool MateBlown away vs Impressed
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Blown away
Top 2,000 (common)
Impressed
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective
Most common: Impressed
| Blown away | Impressed | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bləʊn əˈweɪ//🇺🇸 //bloʊn əˈweɪ// | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈprest/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈprest/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very impressed or amazed | Feeling admiration for someone or something. |
| Example | I was blown away by the stunning performance of the dancers. | I was truly impressed by her ability to solve the complex math problem. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | blown away by a performance, blown away by the scenery, blown away by the news | be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very, at, by, with |
| Antonyms | - | unimpressed, indifferent |
| Common mistakes | Using it in overly formal situations where a more serious phrase is appropriate., Confusing it with the literal meaning of something being physically blown away by the wind. | Confused with 'impress' — remember 'impressed' is a state of feeling., Using it with the wrong preposition — it should be 'impressed by' or 'impressed with'., Omitting the preposition entirely, e.g., saying 'I was impressed him' instead of 'I was impressed by him.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'blown away' in informal contexts to express strong admiration or surprise. It might not be suitable for formal writing or speeches. | Use 'impressed' when you want to express admiration or respect. It is appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it in overly casual settings where simpler words might fit better. |
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Frequently asked questions: Blown away vs Impressed
What's the difference between Blown away and Impressed?
Blown away: Very impressed or amazed Impressed: Feeling admiration for someone or something.
Which is more common: Blown away and Impressed?
Impressed is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Blown away: I was blown away by the stunning performance of the dancers. Impressed: I was truly impressed by her ability to solve the complex math problem.
Can I use Blown away and Impressed interchangeably?
Not always. Blown away and Impressed are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.