adj · verb · 4 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
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General-American:/ɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
Received-Pronunciation:/ɪmˈpəʊzɪŋ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -əʊzɪŋ
CMU ARPABET:IH2 M P OW1 Z IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
an imposing presence
an imposing building
The castle was an imposing sight on the hilltop.
He had an imposing figure and a deep voice.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
present participle and gerund of impose
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
used of a person's appearance or behavior; befitting an eminent person
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
his distinguished bearing
the monarch's imposing presence
she reigned in magisterial beauty
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: distinguished, grand, magisterial
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
impressive in appearance
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a baronial mansion
an imposing residence
a noble tree
severe-looking policemen sat astride noble horses
stately columns
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: baronial, noble, stately
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
35 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
внушителен
(vnušitelen)
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Bulgarian:
импозантен
(impozanten)
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Catalan:
imponent
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Catalan:
imposant
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Chinese Mandarin:
壯觀 /壮观
(zhuàngguān)
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Chinese Mandarin:
雄偉 /雄伟
(xióngwěi)
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Czech:
impozantní
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Danish:
imposant
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Danish:
imponerende
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Danish:
statelig
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Danish:
monumental
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Esperanto:
impona
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Finnish:
mahtava
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Finnish:
näyttävä
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
French:
imposant
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
French:
impressionnant
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
German:
imposant
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
German:
beeindruckend
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Ancient Greek:
σοβαρός
(sobarós)
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Hungarian:
impozáns
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Italian:
imponente
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Macedonian:
впе́чатлив
(vpéčatliv)
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Macedonian:
импоза́нтен
(impozánten)
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Māori:
marutuna
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Polish:
imponujący
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Portuguese:
imponente
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Romanian:
impozant
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Romanian:
măreț
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Romanian:
impunător
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Romanian:
falnic
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Russian:
внуши́тельный
(vnušítelʹnyj)
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Russian:
импоза́нтный
(impozántnyj)
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Russian:
впечатля́ющий
(vpečatljájuščij)
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Spanish:
imponente
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
Swedish:
pampig
— magnificent and impressive because of appearance, size, stateliness or dignity
