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preposition after verb

How to use "impress" with prepositions

Impress with is common for the quality causing admiration. By is more common in passive structures.

Quick answer

Common patterns

Use impress someone with something. In passive clauses, people are often impressed by something.

impress investors with strong results
impressed by her confidence

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
impress + person + with + quality

Showing the reason for admiration

With introduces the impressive quality or achievement.

impressed the audience with his humour
2
be impressed by + thing/person

Using the passive form

By introduces the thing causing admiration in passive clauses.

impressed by the design
3
impress + person

Using a direct object only

The reason may be understood from context.

impress the judges

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
impress with
She impressed us with her preparation.
Standard active pattern.
impress by
We were impressed by the service.
Common in passive structures.
impress on
The teacher impressed the importance of safety on students.
Different meaning: make an idea strongly understood.

Common mistakes

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

Using by in active voice

Active impress more naturally uses with for the quality.

✕ She impressed us by her patience. ✓ She impressed us with her patience.

Confusing two meanings of impress

Impress on has a different meaning from admire.

✕ The film impressed on me. ✓ The film impressed me.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He impressed the panel ___ his technical knowledge.
2. I was impressed ___ their professionalism.
3. The coach impressed the importance of teamwork ___ the players.

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Frequently asked questions

Is "impress with" correct?

Yes. It is the usual active pattern.

Why do people say "impressed by"?

By is standard in passive expressions such as I was impressed by the results.

Can impress mean something different with "on"?

Yes. Impress something on someone means make it strongly understood.

identify-with-by-in-as, for "ignore by" or "ignore in"? illuminate by, with, at, for or in? "illustrate by" or "illustrate in"? "imagine for", "imagine by" or "imagine in"? imbue with, in, by or onto? immigrate to, from, in, with or into? impair by, for, in, because or throughout? "impart to", "impart in" or "impart by"? "impeach by" or "impeach for"? "impinge on" or "impinge upon"? "implement in" or "implement by"?

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