impressionist
gb/ɪmpɹˈɛʃənɪst/ us/ɪmpɹˈɛʃənɪst/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
role
1
comedian who imitates voices
A performer who copies someone’s voice or way of speaking.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is an impressionist
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with an Impressionist (a painter) or with the art movement Impressionism.
Synonyms
impersonator (Often suggests acting as the person, not just copying their voice.)
|
mimic (More general; can include copying gestures or behavior and may sound less professional.)
Collocations
a comedy impressionist
|a TV impressionist
|a brilliant impressionist
|a talented impressionist
|a celebrity impressionist
|a political impressionist
|a voice impressionist
|an impressionist act
|an impressionist routine
|an impressionist on stage
Themes
arts
|music_and_stage
|media
Examples
- The impressionist on the radio can switch between accents in seconds.
- She built her career as an impressionist by copying famous politicians.
- The show hired an impressionist to recreate the singer’s speaking voice.
Learner examples
- He is an impressionist on TV.
- She does great impressions, so she works as an impressionist.
Noun
C1
role
2
artist in the Impressionist style
An artist who paints in the Impressionist style.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is an impressionist
Common mistake:
Do not confuse Impressionist (person/style) with impression (an opinion or effect) or with impressionistic (similar in style but often looser and not strictly about the historical movement).
Synonyms
Impressionism painter (More explicit; used when clarifying the art movement.)
Antonyms
realist (In art, emphasizes accurate, detailed representation rather than a fleeting visual impression.)
Collocations
a French Impressionist
|an Impressionist painter
|an Impressionist artist
|the Impressionists
|a major Impressionist
|an early Impressionist
|a late Impressionist
|Impressionist works
|Impressionist masters
|an Impressionist exhibition
Themes
arts
|history
|painting
Examples
- Monet is often described as the best-known Impressionist.
- The museum has an impressive collection of Impressionist paintings and drawings.
- She wrote her thesis on how the Impressionists used light outdoors.
Learner examples
- Monet was an Impressionist.
- We saw Impressionist art at the museum.
adjective
C1
property
3
relating to Impressionism
In the style of Impressionism.
Usage pattern:
Impressionist [art/style/painting/exhibition]
Common mistake:
Impressionist is usually capitalized when it refers to the art movement (Impressionist art).
Synonyms
Impressionistic (Often means 'suggestive rather than detailed' and may be used more loosely outside art history.)
Antonyms
realistic (Describes art that aims for accurate detail rather than a quick visual impression.)
Collocations
Impressionist art
|Impressionist style
|Impressionist painting
|Impressionist technique
|Impressionist brushstrokes
|Impressionist colors
|Impressionist landscape
|Impressionist exhibition
|Impressionist period
|Impressionist works
Themes
arts
|painting
Examples
- The painter’s Impressionist style focuses on light and movement.
- They visited an Impressionist exhibition featuring works from the 1870s.
- Her latest series uses Impressionist techniques to capture city scenes.
Learner examples
- I like Impressionist art.
- We saw an Impressionist exhibition.
Grammar
Dictionary form
impressionist
IPA
GB/ɪmpɹˈɛʃənɪst/
US/ɪmpɹˈɛʃənɪst/
Syllables & stress
im - pres - sion - ist (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pres)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: impressionist
- Comparative: impressionister
- Superlative: impressionistest
Noun
- Base: impressionist
- Plural: impressionists
Word family
Forms
impressionists
noun
impressionister
adjective
impressionistest
adjective
Core family
Related words
impressively
adverb
impressionable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unimpressive
adjective
Advanced or less common
impressionistic
adjective C1
Expressions
impressionist movement
1/ɪmpɹˈɛʃənɪst mˈuvmənt/
fixed phrase
late-1800s art movement
A famous French art movement from the late 1800s.
Examples
- The Impressionist movement changed how artists painted outdoor scenes.
- Her lecture explained why the Impressionist movement was controversial at first.
the impressionists
1/ðə ɪmpɹˈɛʃənɪsts/
fixed phrase
artists of Impressionism
The famous artists who painted in the Impressionist style.
Examples
- The book compares the Impressionists with earlier French painters.
- Many of the Impressionists preferred to paint outdoors to capture natural light.