3 syllables: im, po, sing. Stress on po.
im-POH-zing
/ˌɪˈmpoʊzɪŋ/
imposing is pronounced im-POH-zing (/ˌɪˈmpoʊzɪŋ/). It has three syllables (im-po-sing), with the stress on "po". Imposing describes something large, grand, or intimidating in appearance or manner. It often conveys a sense of dominance or severity, making an impression that is hard to ignore. The word can function as an adjective for objects or people and carries a nuance of authority or awe.
Imposing describes something large, grand, or intimidating in appearance or manner. It often conveys a sense of dominance or severity, making an impression that is hard to ignore. The word can function as an adjective for objects or people and carries a nuance of authority or awe.
- Misplacing stress: Say im-POS-ing instead of im-PO-sing; practice with a hand clap on the second syllable to feel the beat. - Weak first syllable: The initial /ɪ/ should be light but not elided; keep the /m/ attached to a short, unstressed vowel. - Blurring the /z/ into /s/ or /z/ into /ŋ/: Ensure the /z/ is a distinct, voiced alveolar fricative before the nasal /ŋ/. - Final -ing: Don’t reduce to /ɪn/; keep /ɪŋ/ with clear nasal. - Rounding on /oʊ/ (US) vs /əʊ/ (UK/AU): Maintain appropriate lip rounding, not too closed or too spread.
"The cathedral's towering spires gave the town an imposing silhouette."
"Her imposing presence in the courtroom commanded attention from everyone."
"The mansion stood on a hill, an imposing figure overlooking the valley."
Pronounce as /ɪmˈpoʊ.zɪŋ/ in US, with the second syllable bearing primary stress. The first syllable is unstressed, sounding like “im,” while the second syllable “po-” carries the stress and uses a long O vowel. In careful speech you’ll hear a slight two-part vowel transition between /oʊ/ and /zɪŋ/. UK pronunciation is /ɪmˈpəʊ.zɪŋ/, with a shorter, more centralized vowel in the second syllable and a non-rhotic r (no rhoticity). Australian is similar to UK: /ɪmˈpəʊ.zɪŋ/, with the vowel quality slightly broader and the final -ing pronounced as /ɪŋ/.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying im-POSE-ing or IM-po-sing), mispronouncing the second syllable as /poʊ/ with too much emphasis, and weakening the final -ing to a lazy /ɪn/. To correct: keep primary stress on the second syllable /ˈpoʊ/; ensure the /z/ is clear before the /ɪŋ/; and end with a crisp /zɪŋ/ or /zɪŋ/ without devolving into /zɪn/. Practicing slow, then natural pace helps lock the rhythm.
US speakers typically use /ɪmˈpoʊ.zɪŋ/ with a clear /oʊ/ diphthong in the second syllable. UK and AU varieties use /ɪmˈpəʊ.zɪŋ/ with a shorter, more centralized /əʊ/ and often less vowel length, and rhoticity is non-issues for AU and UK; US is non-rhotic in many dialects but not all. The final /ŋ/ remains velar nasal for all. Consonants tend to be crisper in US, with slightly rounded lips on /oʊ/. In UK/AU you may hear more reduction in the first syllable and more pronounced vowel in the second depending on speaker.
The difficulty lies in the two-part stress pattern (secondary decay in the first syllable, primary on the second) and in the /poʊ/ vs /pəʊ/ realization; the contrastive /z/ before a velar nasal /ŋ/ can cause hyponasality or flapping-like effects when spoken quickly. Additionally, the transition from the stressed vowel to /zɪŋ/ requires a smooth glide. Practitioners must coordinate tongue position to produce a clear /z/ while maintaining accurate lip rounding for /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ depending on accent.
There are no silent letters in imposing; both syllables are pronounced. The initial 'im-' is loose in pronunciation with reduced vowel in the first syllable, like a schwa in rapid speech. The middle 'po' carries the main stress and the 'o' functions as a pronounced diphthong in US (/poʊ/) or a more centralized /pəʊ/ in UK/AU. Final -ing is pronounced as /ɪŋ/ with a full nasal closure.
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- US: Stress on the second syllable; keep the /oʊ/ diphthong with a clear glide; keep the /z/ crisp before /ɪŋ/. - UK: Reduced first syllable vowel to /ɪ/ or /ə/; /əʊ/ in the second syllable; often drier intonation; avoid over-emphasizing the /po/. - AU: Similar to UK but with broader vowel qualities; more centralized in the first vowel; keep non-rhotic practice in connected speech. - IPA references: US /ɪmˈpoʊ.zɪŋ/, UK /ɪmˈpəʊ.zɪŋ/, AU /ɪmˈpəʊ.zɪŋ/.
Imposing comes from the late Latin imponere, meaning to place upon or to impose. The form passed into French as imposer before entering English in the 17th century. The root im- (upon) combined with ponere (to place, put) yields ‘to place upon’ or ‘to impose.’ By metaphor, it shifted from the literal act of placing something physically on another to metaphorical application of influence, authority, or significance. The sense of “demanding attention through size or authority” developed as a natural extension of the physical act of placing something imposing in view or on display. Early uses tended to describe monuments or barriers that literally stood tall and dominant. Over time, the adjective sense broadened to describe people or things that provoke awe or fear due to scale, power, or majesty, rather than merely being large. In modern usage, imposing typically emphasizes the subjective impact on observers—how the appearance or demeanor projects dominance and authority. The word’s spelling and pronunciation remained stable across English variants, though subtle accental differences logistically affect pronunciation in daily speech.
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Words that rhyme with "imposing"
-ing sounds
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