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Prepositions after adjectives

Impressed with or impressed by?

Both impressed with and impressed by are standard. By often focuses on the cause, while with commonly focuses on qualities or results.

Quick answer

How to choose between with and by

Use impressed by for the person, action, or thing causing admiration. Use impressed with for qualities, performance, or results you admire.

We were impressed by her speech.
I am impressed with the results.
They seemed impressed by his confidence.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
impressed by + person/thing

Naming the source of admiration

By introduces the person, action, or thing creating the impression.

She was impressed by the presentation.
Visitors are often impressed by the architecture.
2
impressed with + quality/result

Focusing on qualities or performance

With often highlights results, skills, or features.

The manager was impressed with your work.
I am impressed with the new design.
3
be impressed to + verb

Reacting positively to an action

Use impressed to before a verb in expressions such as impressed to see or impressed to learn.

We were impressed to see such progress.
She was impressed to hear the news.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
impressed with
I was impressed with the team's discipline.
Focuses on qualities, performance, or results.
impressed by
I was impressed by the team's coach.
Focuses on the source or cause of admiration.
impressed at
She was impressed at how quickly they finished.
Less common; used before clauses or events in some styles.
impressed in
They were impressed in the interview.
In introduces place or context, not the cause of admiration.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using by and with interchangeably without nuance

Both are correct, but they may focus on different things.

✕ I was impressed by the results. ✓ I was impressed with the results.

Missing a preposition after impressed

Impressed usually needs by or with before a noun.

✕ She was impressed his attitude. ✓ She was impressed by his attitude.

Using impressed in for admiration

Use by or with for the object of admiration.

✕ We were impressed in the service. ✓ We were impressed with the service.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. I was impressed ___ her calm response.
2. The client seemed impressed ___ the final product.
3. We were impressed ___ see so many volunteers.

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Frequently asked questions

Are impressed with and impressed by both correct?

Yes. Both are standard, but they may emphasize different aspects.

Which is better for results or performance?

Impressed with is especially common for results, skills, and performance.

Can impressed be followed directly by a noun?

Usually no. English normally uses impressed by or impressed with before a noun.

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