Meaning & use
imposing
Last updated
UK/ɪmˈpəʊzɪŋ/
US/ɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Looking grand, large or powerful in a way that makes people respect or feel slightly awed by it.
Grammar: Often goes before a noun: an imposing building, an imposing figure.
Patterns
- an imposing figure
- look imposing
The old courthouse was an imposing building with tall stone columns.
The coach was an imposing figure, tall and broad-shouldered.
The mountain looked imposing under the dark clouds.
Common combinations
- imposing figure
- The judge was an imposing figure in her robe.
- imposing building
- An imposing building stood at the end of the avenue.
- imposing presence
- He had an imposing presence in meetings.
- look imposing
- The castle looks imposing from the road.
- imposing structure
- The bridge is an imposing structure over the river.
Synonyms and how they differ
- impressive
- Impressive is purely admiring, whereas imposing adds a hint of intimidation.
- grand
- Grand focuses on splendor and scale, but does not necessarily frighten.
- intimidating
- Intimidating is more negative, stressing fear rather than respect.
- majestic
- Majestic is more admiring and poetic, describing noble beauty.
Opposites
Word family
- impose verb
- to force something on someone, or to take advantage
- imposingly adverb
- in a grand or commanding way
- imposition noun
- something unfair or inconvenient put on someone
- imposingness noun
- the quality of being grand, rare
Practice
Which phrase best uses imposing?
Choose one answer.
Imposing describes grand, powerful sight, such as a castle. The others are not things that inspire awe.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “imposing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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