imprint
gb/ˈɪmpɹɪnt/ us/ˈɪmpɹɪnt/
B2
English
~ 9700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
mark made by pressure
A mark on a surface made when something is pressed into it.
Usage pattern:
an imprint of [something] on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only "print" when they mean a sunken or pressed mark on a surface. Use "imprint" when the mark is caused by pressure, especially when it looks pressed into something soft.
Synonyms
impression (Very close in meaning; often used for marks left by pressure, but also for less clear or partial marks.)
|
mark (More general and common; does not always suggest a mark specifically made by pressure.)
Antonyms
erasure (Focuses on the removal of a mark, which is the opposite of a mark remaining visible.)
Collocations
leave an imprint
|deep imprint
|faint imprint
|an imprint of a hand
|imprint on the surface
Themes
daily life
|appearance
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There was a clear imprint of his hand in the wet cement.
- The heavy box left an imprint on the carpet.
- You could see the imprint of the coin in the soft wax.
- The pillow still held the faint imprint of her head.
- The fossil is an imprint of a leaf in the rock.
Learner examples
- The ring left an imprint on her finger.
- I saw the imprint of a shoe in the mud.
- The glass made an imprint on the tablecloth.
- His head made an imprint in the soft pillow.
- The cat's paw left a small imprint in the snow.
Verb
B2
action
2
press a mark into something
To press something so that it makes a mark or picture on a surface.
Usage pattern:
to imprint [something] on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "imprint in" instead of "imprint on" for surfaces (e.g. "imprint a logo on the bag," not "in the bag"). They may also confuse "imprint" with simple "print"; use "imprint" when pressure creates a physical mark, especially in materials like metal, leather, or clay.
Synonyms
stamp (Often used for marks made with ink or a metal tool; slightly more common in everyday speech.)
|
emboss (More specific; means to imprint so the design is raised from the surface.)
Antonyms
erase (Opposite action; removes marks instead of creating them.)
Collocations
imprint a logo
|imprint a design
|imprint text on
|imprint a pattern
|imprint a name on
Themes
daily life
|art
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company imprints its logo on every product.
- They imprinted the date on the metal tag.
- The artist imprinted delicate patterns on the clay tiles.
- Please imprint your initials on the back of the medal.
- The machine imprints serial numbers on the bottles.
Learner examples
- The factory imprints words on the cans.
- He imprinted his name on the leather belt.
- They imprinted a picture on the T-shirt.
- The machine imprints numbers on the tickets.
- She imprinted a flower design on the soft clay.
Noun
C1
entity
3
lasting mental or emotional effect
A strong effect that stays in a person's mind or character after an event or experience.
Usage pattern:
leave an imprint on [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse "imprint" instead of more common words like "impact" or "effect". "Imprint" usually suggests a deeper or more lasting influence, often emotional or psychological.
Synonyms
impact (Very common; more general and does not always suggest something long-lasting or deeply internal.)
|
mark (Figurative; often used like "imprint" for a noticeable effect on someone's life or personality.)
Antonyms
no effect (Describes the absence of any noticeable or lasting influence.)
Collocations
leave an imprint on
|deep emotional imprint
|lasting imprint
|cultural imprint
|childhood imprint
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her time abroad left a deep imprint on her worldview.
- The war left a lasting imprint on the country's politics.
- Those early years made an emotional imprint on him that never faded.
- The teacher's kindness left an imprint on all her students.
- The film's powerful images left an imprint on the audience.
Learner examples
- The trip left an imprint on his life.
- Her words left an imprint on my mind.
- The accident left an emotional imprint on the family.
- That book left a strong imprint on me.
- Childhood events can leave an imprint on a person.
unknown
C1
action
4
fix firmly in memory or mind
To make an idea or image stay very strongly in someone's mind or memory.
Usage pattern:
to imprint [something] on [someone's] mind/memory
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes mix the prepositions and say "imprint in my mind" or "imprint to my memory." The most natural patterns are "imprint on my mind" and "imprint on my memory," and very commonly the passive form "be imprinted on my mind / memory."
Synonyms
engrave (Often used figuratively in phrases like "engrave on the memory"; sounds slightly more literary than "imprint".)
|
fix (More general; does not by itself express the strong, often permanent force that "imprint" suggests.)
Antonyms
erase (The opposite mental process: to remove something from the mind or memory.)
Collocations
imprint something on the mind
|imprint on the memory
|visually imprinted
|imprint a message
|be imprinted forever
Themes
psychology
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The image of the burning building was imprinted on his memory.
- Those words were imprinted on her mind from childhood.
- The training is designed to imprint safe behavior on new drivers.
- The sound of her voice is imprinted on my mind.
- Early experiences can imprint certain fears on a child.
Learner examples
- That day is imprinted on my memory.
- His face is imprinted on my mind.
- The lesson was imprinted on the students' minds.
- The song quickly imprinted itself on my memory.
- Her smile is imprinted in my mind.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
5
publisher's brand or label
A special brand name that a publisher or record company uses for one group of its books, music, or other products.
Usage pattern:
[a] [genre] imprint of [a company]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "imprint" here means a physical mark. In publishing and music business, it usually refers to a brand or line of products inside a larger company.
Synonyms
label (Commonly used in music and sometimes in publishing; slightly broader and more informal.)
|
brand (Very general; does not specifically refer to a publishing or recording line, but overlaps in business contexts.)
Antonyms
parent company (Refers to the main organization rather than one of its specialized brands or lines.)
Collocations
a new imprint
|a children's imprint
|publish under the [X] imprint
|crime-fiction imprint
|major publishing imprint
Themes
business
|media
|books
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The novel was released under the publisher's new science-fiction imprint.
- They launched a separate imprint for young adult books.
- The crime imprint has become the company's most profitable division.
- This imprint focuses on academic and professional titles.
- Several well-known imprints are owned by the same media group.
Learner examples
- The book came out under a small imprint.
- They started a new imprint for children's stories.
- That imprint only publishes travel guides.
- Many imprints belong to one big company.
- Her first novel was with a big city imprint.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
6
printed publisher information
The part of a book or magazine that shows the name and address of the publisher and other basic details.
Usage pattern:
the imprint shows [publisher details]
Common mistake:
This technical sense is often unknown to learners. They may see the word "imprint" on a book page and not realize it refers to the block of publisher information, not a logo or picture.
Synonyms
colophon (More traditional and less common term; mainly used in publishing and book design.)
Antonyms
anonymity (If there is no imprint or publisher information, the work could be considered anonymous.)
Collocations
the imprint page
|publisher's imprint
|legal imprint
|read the imprint
|details in the imprint
Themes
books
|business
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- According to the imprint, the book was first published in 1998.
- The magazine's imprint lists the editor-in-chief and publisher.
- You can find the publisher's address in the imprint at the front of the book.
- The legal imprint must appear on every copy of the newspaper.
- The imprint includes the ISBN and printing location.
Learner examples
- The imprint is on the first pages of the book.
- He checked the imprint to see who published it.
- The imprint shows the name of the publisher.
- You can find the year in the imprint.
- The imprint page has the book's details.
Verb
technical
C1
action
7
young animal form early attachment
When a very young animal comes to see another animal, a person, or a thing as its parent or guide and follows it.
Usage pattern:
[a young animal] imprints on [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this is just a more formal word for "like" or "love." In biology and psychology, "imprint" describes a special early process where a young animal quickly forms a strong attachment, often to the first moving thing it sees.
Synonyms
bond (More general; does not specifically describe the early, rapid process studied in animal behavior.)
Antonyms
reject (Describes the opposite behavior, where an animal does not form an attachment and may turn away.)
Collocations
imprint on the first moving object
|ducklings imprint on
|chicks imprint on
|imprint on humans
|imprint during a critical period
Themes
animals
|science
|psychology
Examples
- In the experiment, the ducklings imprinted on a moving toy instead of their mother.
- Some birds imprint on the first large moving object they see after hatching.
- If the chicks imprint on humans, they may follow people instead of adult birds.
- The study showed that the goslings imprinted on the researcher who fed them.
- Many animals imprint during a short, critical period after birth.
Learner examples
- The baby ducks imprinted on the man who fed them.
- The chicks imprinted on a red ball and followed it.
- Some birds imprint on the first thing they see.
- If a bird imprints on humans, it may not fear people.
- The young geese imprinted on the scientist.
Grammar
Dictionary form
imprint
IPA
GB/ˈɪmpɹɪnt/
US/ˈɪmpɹɪnt/
Syllables & stress
im - print (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (im)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: imprint
- Plural: imprints
Verb
- Base: imprint
- 3rd Person Singular: imprints
- Present Participle: imprinting
- Past: imprinted
Word family
Expressions
be imprinted in one's memory
1/bˈi ɪmpɹˈɪntɪd ˈɪn wˈʌnz mˈɛmɚi/
fixed phrase
be fixed firmly in memory
To stay very clearly and strongly in someone's memory so that they cannot forget it.
Examples
- The sound of the explosion is imprinted in her memory.
- His words are imprinted in my memory even after many years.
be imprinted on one's mind
2/bˈi ɪmpɹˈɪntɪd ˈɔn wˈʌnz mˈaɪnd/
fixed phrase
be fixed firmly in the mind
To stay very clearly and strongly in someone's mind so that they cannot forget it.
Examples
- Her smile is imprinted on my mind.
- The image of the crash is imprinted on his mind and still troubles him.
- That day is imprinted on my mind forever.
imprint on
3/ˈɪmpɹɪnt ˈɔn/
fixed phrase
technical
young animal attach to caregiver
When a very young animal quickly forms a strong bond with a person, animal, or object and follows it as if it were its parent.
Examples
- Goslings often imprint on the first moving object they see.
- The ducklings imprinted on the zookeeper and followed her everywhere.
leave an imprint on
4/lˈiv ən ˈɪmpɹɪnt ˈɔn/
fixed phrase
cause a lasting mark or effect
To have a strong and lasting effect on something or someone, physically or emotionally.
Examples
- The experience of war left an imprint on the entire generation.
- Years of heavy furniture had left an imprint on the wooden floor.
- Her kindness left an imprint on everyone she met.