Don’t use ‘important’ to say that an amount or quantity is very large. Don’t talk, for example, about ‘
im|port|er / I mpɔː r tə r / (importers ) N‑COUNT An importer is a country, firm, or person that buys goods from another country for use in their own country. □ [+ of ] …an importer of exotic food.
im|por|tu|nate / I mpɔː r tjʊnət/ ADJ If you describe someone as importunate , you think they are annoying because they keep trying to get something from you. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ His secretary shielded him from importunate visitors.
im|por|tune / I mpɔː r tjuː n, [AM ] -tuː n/ (importunes , importuning , importuned ) VERB If someone importunes another person, they ask them for something or ask them to do something, in an annoying way. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] One can no longer walk the streets without seeing beggars importuning passers-by. [Also V n to-inf, V n + for ]
im|pose ◆◆◇ / I mpoʊ z/ (imposes , imposing , imposed )
1 VERB If you impose something on people, you use your authority to force them to accept it. □ [V n + on ] Britain imposed fines on airlines which bring in passengers without proper papers. □ [V n] Many companies have imposed a pay freeze. □ [V -ed] The conditions imposed on volunteers were stringent. ● im|po|si|tion / I mpəz I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the imposition of a ban on cycling in the city centre.
2 VERB If you impose your opinions or beliefs on other people, you try and make people accept them as a rule or as a model to copy. □ [V n + on ] Parents of either sex should beware of imposing their own tastes on their children.
3 VERB If something imposes strain, pressure, or suffering on someone, it causes them to experience it. □ [V n + on ] The filming imposed an additional strain on her.
4 VERB If someone imposes on you, they unreasonably expect you to do something for them which you do not want to do. □ [V + on/upon ] I was afraid you'd simply feel we were imposing on you. ● im|po|si|tion (impositions ) N‑COUNT □ I know this is an imposition. But please hear me out.
5 VERB If someone imposes themselves on you, they force you to accept their company although you may not want to. □ [V pron-refl + on ] I didn't want to impose myself on my married friends. SYNONYMS impose VERB 1
inflict: Rebels say they have inflicted heavy casualties on government forces.
enforce: They struggled to limit the cost by enforcing a low-tech specification.
force: To force this agreement on the nation is wrong.
foist: I don't see my role as foisting my beliefs on them.
im|pos|ing / I mpoʊ z I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as imposing , you mean that they have an impressive appearance or manner. □ …the imposing wrought-iron gates at the entrance to the estate.
im|pos|sible ◆◆◇ / I mpɒ s I b ə l/
1 ADJ [ADJ to-inf] Something that is impossible cannot be done or cannot happen. □ It was impossible for anyone to get in because no one knew the password. □ He thinks the tax is impossible to administer. □ Keller is good at describing music–an almost impossible task to do well. ● N‑SING The impossible is something which is impossible. □ They were expected to do the impossible. ● im|pos|sibly ADV [ADV adj] □ Mathematical physics is an almost impossibly difficult subject. ● im|pos|sibil|ity / I mpɒ s I b I l I ti/ (impossibilities ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] …the impossibility of knowing absolute truth.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] An impossible situation or an impossible position is one that is very difficult to deal with. □ The Government was now in an almost impossible position.
3 ADJ If you describe someone as impossible , you are annoyed that their bad behaviour or strong views make them difficult to deal with. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The woman is impossible, thought Frannie.
im|pos|tor / I mpɒ stə r / (impostors ) also imposter N‑COUNT Someone who is an impostor is dishonestly pretending to be someone else in order to gain an advantage. □ He was an imposter, who masqueraded as a doctor.
im|po|tence / I mpətəns/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Impotence is a lack of power to influence people or events. □ …a sense of impotence in the face of deplorable events.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Impotence is a man's sexual problem in which his penis fails to get hard or stay hard. □ Impotence affects 10 million men in the U.S. alone.
im|po|tent / I mpətənt/
1 ADJ If someone feels impotent , they feel that they have no power to influence people or events. □ The aggression of a bully leaves people feeling hurt, angry and impotent.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If a man is impotent , he is unable to have sex normally, because his penis fails to get hard or stay hard.
im|pound / I mpaʊ nd/ (impounds , impounding , impounded ) VERB If something is impounded by the police, customs officers or other officials, they officially take possession of it because a law or rule has been broken. □ [be V -ed] The ship was impounded under the terms of the U.N. trade embargo. □ [V n] The police moved in, arrested him and impounded the cocaine.
im|pov|er|ish / I mpɒ vər I ʃ/ (impoverishes , impoverishing , impoverished )