- An example of impinge is rain falling on a windshield.
- An example of impinge is being in a person's personal space.
Impinge is defined as to hit, trespass or have an effect on something.
- to strike, hit, or dash (on, upon, or against something)
- to touch (on or upon); have an effect: an idea that impinges on one's mind
- to make inroads or encroach (on or upon the property or rights of another)
Origin of impingeClassical Latin impingere ; from in-, in + pangere, to strike: see fang
verbim·pinged, im·ping·ing, im·ping·es
- a. To encroach on or limit something, such as a right: “powerful institutions of government that inhibited free enterprise and impinged on commercial—and by extension private—liberties” (Greg Critser).b. Usage Problem To have an effect or influence: “Any consequence of a change in alleles &ellipsis; is fair game for natural selection, so long as it impinges on the survival of the responsible allele, relative to its rivals” (Richard Dawkins).
- a. To collide or strike against something: Sound waves impinge on the eardrum.b. To advance over or press upon something: pain caused by a bone impinging upon a nerve.
To encroach upon; limit: “One of a democratic government's continuing challenges is finding a way to protect &ellipsis; secrets without impinging the liberties that democracy exists to protect” (Christian Science Monitor).
Origin of impingeLatin impingere : in-, against; see in–2 + pangere, to fasten; see pag- in Indo-European roots.
(third-person singular simple present impinges, present participle impinging, simple past and past participle impinged)
- The transitive use is less common, not included in many small dictionaries, and not favored by Garner's Modern American Usage (2009).
OriginSee also: împinge
From Latin impingō (“dash against, impinge”).