imprint

1 of 2

verb

imprinted; imprinting; imprints

transitive verb

1
: to mark by or as if by pressure : impress
2
a
: to fix indelibly or permanently (as on the memory)
b
: to subject to or induce by imprinting
an imprinted preference

intransitive verb

: to undergo imprinting
imprinter
im-ˈprin-tər How to pronounce imprint (audio)
ˈim-ˌprin-
noun

imprint

2 of 2

noun

im·​print ˈim-ˌprint How to pronounce imprint (audio)
: something imprinted or printed: such as
a
: a mark or depression made by pressure
the fossil imprint of a dinosaur's foot
b
: an identifying name (as of a publisher) placed conspicuously on a product
also : the name under which a publisher issues books
c
: an indelible distinguishing effect or influence

Examples of imprint in a Sentence

Verb wearing a T-shirt imprinted with the company logo a picture imprinted in my memory Noun We saw an imprint of a bike tire on the dirt trail. a fossil imprint of a dinosaur's foot
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
But the impact the former Heisman Trophy-winning running back, who spellbound the nation as he was tried and ultimately acquitted for the gruesome murder of his ex-wife, left imprinted on America’s media environment will endure long beyond his death. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024 This is part of the genius of Chris Claremont, the famed writer who imprinted his political and social consciousness onto the X-books from 1975 to 1991. Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Mar. 2024 Sam Laurence’s promotion company imprint Dollop will also be included in the company, along with promoters Eve Thomas and Hayley Moss. Dave Brooks, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2024 Copied from a newsletter published by students in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, the image features a Black man and an Arab man with nooses around their necks, held by a hand imprinted with the Star of David that has a dollar sign in the middle of the star. NBC News, 21 Feb. 2024 Elements of The Matrix came from the Wachowskis' days working at the Marvel comics imprint Razorline in 1993. Jordan Runtagh, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024 This time, the ramp up included offseason conversations with players and staff, along with the time spring training allowed to establish culture and imprint himself on all-things-Padres. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024 Spot a political pattern emerging across the globe, pin its fortunes to yours (Clinton’s Third Way neoliberalism, Reagan’s cheerily fierce anti-Communism), and your legacy might reach far beyond Washington, your ideas imprinted in the hearts of billions. Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2024 Later that evening, Adam Lee is in the plate room imprinting digital files, produced by editors and page designers, onto aluminum sheets. Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
Noun
This latest title in the imprint’s series revolves around themes of protest and freedom as the producers excavate deep Vietnam-era gems from such inspiring acts as Joe Henderson, Gary Bartz, Ran Blake, Azar Lawrence, A.K. Salim, and The Dungills. Ron Hart, SPIN, 17 Apr. 2024 In the nearly 30 years since Dre left Death Row to found his powerhouse Aftermath Entertainment imprint, he’s been heavily responsible for turning Eminem, 50 Cent, the Game, Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar into household names. Liz Sanchez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024 The wheat is organic semolina grown on farms that practice regenerative agriculture, which emphasizes returning nutrients to the soil to reduce the carbon imprint of the growing process. Sunset Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024 The set also comes with a bonus sampler book featuring snippets of three other book series by different authors in the Rick Riordan Presents book imprint. Deanna McCormack, Parents, 19 Mar. 2024 The song spans a myriad of references and influences, but the imprint of Tina Turner is unmistakable. Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024 Celebrate With Bunny Paw Print Cookies The Easter rabbit baked these cute cookies with their paw imprint. Laura Fenton, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024 Along with starring in the production, Reid will also co-produce the film under her own imprint, A Seed & Wings Productions, as well as Kenya Barris and his Khalabo Ink Society. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 19 Mar. 2024 The disappearance of the caliphate — that is, an anchoring spiritual authority for Muslims, especially Sunnis, around the world — left a deep imprint on 20th century politics. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'imprint.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English emprenten, from Anglo-French emprient, 3rd singular of enpreindre to impress (from Latin imprimere) & empreinter, from emprent, past participle of enpreindre

Noun

Middle English enpreent, from Anglo-French emprente, from feminine of emprent, past participle of enpreindre

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of imprint was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near imprint

Cite this Entry

“Imprint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imprint. Accessed 1 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

imprint

1 of 2 verb
im·​print im-ˈprint How to pronounce imprint (audio)
ˈim-ˌ
1
: to mark by or as if by pressure : stamp
2
: to fix firmly (as on the memory)
3
: to go through the process of imprinting

imprint

2 of 2 noun
im·​print ˈim-ˌprint How to pronounce imprint (audio)
1
: something imprinted or printed : impression
the imprint of a hippo's foot
2
: a publisher's name on the title page of a book

Medical Definition

imprint

transitive verb
im·​print im-ˈprint How to pronounce imprint (audio) ˈim-ˌ How to pronounce imprint (audio)
1
: to fix indelibly or permanently (as on the memory)
2
: to subject to or induce by imprinting
an imprinted preference
a gene imprinted to be inactive when inherited from the mother

intransitive verb

: to undergo imprinting
imprinter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on imprint

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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