Cool MateImpress vs Made quite the impression
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Impress
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Made quite the impression
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Impress
| Impress | Made quite the impression | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpres/","/ɪmˈpresɪz/","/ɪmˈprest/","/ɪmˈpresɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpres/","/ɪmˈpresɪz/","/ɪmˈprest/","/ɪmˈpresɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //meɪd kwaɪt ði ɪmˈprɛʃən//🇺🇸 //meɪd kwaɪt ði ɪmˈprɛʃən// |
| Meaning | To make someone feel admiration or respect. | To create a strong effect or feeling in someone's mind. |
| Example | She always tries to impress her friends with her cooking skills. | Her speech during the ceremony made quite the impression on the audience. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | really, be determined to, be keen to, hope to, with, an attempt to impress somebody, an effort to impress somebody, be easily impressed | make quite the impression, leave an impression, first impression, strong impression, positive impression |
| Antonyms | disappoint, bore, dissatisfy | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'press' — remember 'impress' involves making a positive impression., Using 'impress' without an object — it's not used alone., Overusing in casual settings — can sound pretentious if used too often. | Confusing 'make an impression' with 'make a decision'., Using it in negative contexts where it feels inappropriate., Forgetting to use 'quite' for emphasis. |
| Usage notes | Use 'impress' when you want to express that someone has made a positive impact on another person's feelings. It's appropriate in both casual and professional contexts. | Used in both spoken and written contexts. Appropriate for compliments and positive experiences. Less common in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Impress vs Made quite the impression
What's the difference between Impress and Made quite the impression?
Impress: To make someone feel admiration or respect. Made quite the impression: To create a strong effect or feeling in someone's mind.
Which is more common: Impress and Made quite the impression?
Impress is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Impress: She always tries to impress her friends with her cooking skills. Made quite the impression: Her speech during the ceremony made quite the impression on the audience.
Can I use Impress and Made quite the impression interchangeably?
Not always. Impress and Made quite the impression 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.