Meaning & Definition of word "Impulse"
to
Impulse
/ˈɪmpʌls/
noun:
- 1. A sudden wish or urge to act without premeditation.
- Example: She acted on impulse and bought the expensive dress.
- 2. A driving or motivating force; an influence.
- Example: His creative impulse led him to write a novel.
- 3. A short electrical signal that conveys information or stimulates action.
- Example: The doctor explained that the brain transmits impulses to control movements.
verb:
- 1. To stimulate or move to action.
- Example: The advertisement was designed to impulse customers to make a purchase.
Etymology
From Latin 'impulsus', meaning 'a push' or 'a driving force'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
act on impulse:
To act suddenly without thinking about the consequences.
follow your impulses:
To listen to and act on your natural desires or urges.
impulse buy:
An unplanned purchase made in the moment.
Related Words
instinct:
An innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior in animals in response to certain stimuli.
compulsion:
An irresistible urge to behave in a certain way, often against one's conscious wishes.
Slang Meanings of impulse
Meaning: Acting without thinking.
Example Sentence: That was such an impulse move.
Meaning: Doing something on a whim.
Example Sentence: She made an impulse decision to travel.