Imprint meaning, definition, and synonyms

Imprint is a word with several related meanings. It can mean to press a mark into something, to put an idea firmly into someone’s mind, or the mark or influence left behind by that pressure or impact.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /ɪmˈprɪnt/

Easy pronunciation: im-PRINT (approximate spelling).

Stress: Stress the second syllable: print.

Verb sense: to mark or stamp something by pressing on it; to leave a clear mark.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Imprint Meaning

to press a mark into a surface

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to mark or stamp something by pressing on it; to leave a clear mark

Example: The seal was imprinted into the wax.

Synonyms for this meaning:

impress — Used when something is marked by pressure or force.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Imprint

Meaning 2

to make an idea stay strongly in someone’s mind

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to establish something firmly in the mind

Example: Parents often imprint their values on their children.

Synonyms for this meaning:

form — Related to shaping beliefs, but not a perfect everyday substitute.

Meaning 3

a mark left by pressing or printing

Part of speech: noun

Definition: an impression made by pressure or printing

Example: The coin left a faint imprint in the clay.

Synonyms for this meaning:

embossment — Works for a raised or pressed mark, but is more specific.

Meaning 4

a dent or hollow pressed into a surface

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a shallow hollow made by pressing

Example: There was an imprint in the cushion where he had been sitting.

Synonyms for this meaning:

depression — A pressed-in hollow or indentation.
impression — A mark or indentation made by pressure.

Meaning 5

a lasting effect or trace

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a distinctive influence or effect left by something

Example: The city still bears the imprint of its industrial past.

Meaning 6

the name or label of a publisher on a book

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a publisher’s identifying information printed on a book

Example: The novel appeared under a major imprint.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Imprint Synonyms

Similar Meaning

impress

to establish something firmly in the mind

form

an impression made by pressure or printing

embossment

a shallow hollow made by pressing

depression
impression

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

Don’t confuse the verb imprint with the noun imprint.
Don’t use imprint as a general synonym for influence when you mean a publisher’s label on a book.
Don’t treat impression and imprint as interchangeable in every sense; impression can also mean an opinion or feeling.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does imprint mean in English?

Imprint can mean to press a mark into something, to fix an idea in someone’s mind, or the mark, trace, or influence left behind.

What is the synonym of imprint?

For the main verb sense, the closest synonym is impress. Other senses may use different words, such as depression or impression for a pressed-in mark.

Is imprint a noun or a verb?

It can be both. As a verb, it means to press or fix something in the mind. As a noun, it can mean a mark, trace, or publisher’s label.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.