Standard Lemma guide

impinge

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ɪmˈpɪnd͡ʒ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪndʒ
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 M P IH1 N JH Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make a physical impact on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, rare, transitive

Examples

  • Loud noise can impinge on the eardrum, causing temporary hearing damage.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: collide, crash, strike

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To interfere with.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, intransitive, rare, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: encroach, infringe, trespass

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To have an effect upon, especially a negative one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, intransitive

Examples

  • Near-synonym: infringe

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: affect, limit, touch, influence, impact, infringe

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

advance beyond the usual limit

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: encroach, infringe

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: advance, progress, pass on, move on, march on, go on

5

verb

Meaning 5

impinge or infringe upon

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This impinges on my rights as an individual
  • This matter entrenches on other domains

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: encroach, entrench, trench

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: trespass, take advantage

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin impingō (“dash against, impinge”). Compare impact, derived from the perfect passive participle of impingō.

Across languages

Translations

49 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: удрям се (udrjam se) — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Bulgarian: попадам върху (popadam vǎrhu) — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Dutch: raken — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Dutch: treffen — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Dutch: botsen — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • French: toucher — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • French: butter — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • French: cogner — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • German: aufschlagen — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • German: aufprallen — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Hungarian: nekiütközik — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Hungarian: összeütközik — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Hungarian: ütközik — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Hungarian: nekicsapódik — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Hungarian: rávetődik — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Italian: impattare — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Spanish: chocar — to make a physical impact on to collide, to crash (upon)
  • Bulgarian: накърнявам (nakǎrnjavam) — to interfere with
  • Bulgarian: посягам на (posjagam na) — to interfere with
  • Dutch: beroeren — to interfere with
  • Dutch: invloed hebben op — to interfere with
  • French: influencer — to interfere with
  • French: troubler — to interfere with
  • Galician: escrutar — to interfere with
  • German: beeinflussen — to interfere with
  • Hungarian: hatással van — to interfere with
  • Hungarian: kihat — to interfere with
  • Hungarian: hatást gyakorol — to interfere with
  • Hungarian: hat — to interfere with
  • Hungarian: érint — to interfere with
  • Hungarian: befolyásol — to interfere with
  • Russian: посяга́ть (posjagátʹ) — to interfere with
  • Spanish: interferir — to interfere with
  • Spanish: inmiscuirse — to interfere with
  • Spanish: pinzar — to interfere with
  • Bulgarian: ограничавам (ograničavam) — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • Dutch: beïnvloeden — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • Dutch: beperken — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • Dutch: tornen — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • French: agir sur — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • German: einschneiden — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • Hungarian: hátrányosan befolyásol/érint — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • Hungarian: káros hatással van — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • Hungarian: árt — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • Hungarian: sért — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • Hungarian: zavar — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • Spanish: limitar — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • Spanish: coartar — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
  • Spanish: constreñir — to have a (negative) effect upon; to limit
Real reading context

impinge in complete knowledge articles