The　molecular　imprinting　technique　(MIT),　also　described　as　the　＂lock　to　key＂　method,　has　been　demonstrated　as　an　effective　tool　for　the　creation　of　synthetic　polymers　with　antibody-like　sites　to　specifically　recognize　target　molecules.　To　date,　most　successful　molecular　imprinting　researches　were　limited　to　small　molecules　(＜1500　Da);　biomacromolecule　(especially　protein)　imprinting　remains　a　serious　challenge　due　to　their　large　size,　chemical　and　structural　complexity,　and　environmental　instability.　Nevertheless,　protein　imprinting　has　achieved　some　significant　breakthroughs　in　imprinting　methods　and　applications　over　the　past　decade.　Some　special　protein-imprinted　materials　with　outstanding　properties　have　been　developed　and　exhibited　excellent　potential　in　several　advanced　fields　such　as　separation　and　purification,　proteomics,　biomarker　detection,　bioimaging　and　therapy.　In　this　review,　we　critically　and　comprehensively　surveyed　the　recent　advances　in　protein　imprinting,　particularly　emphasizing　the　significant　progress　in　imprinting　methods　and　highlighted　applications.　Finally,　we　summarize　the　major　challenges　remaining　in　protein　imprinting　and　propose　its　development　direction　in　the　near　future.