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Translate files Impulse
/ˈɪmpʌls/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A sudden wish or urge to act without premeditation.
She acted on impulse and bought the expensive dress.
A driving or motivating force; an influence.
His creative impulse led him to write a novel.
A short electrical signal that conveys information or stimulates action.
The doctor explained that the brain transmits impulses to control movements.
verb
To stimulate or move to action.
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
Acting without thinking.
That was such an impulse move.
Doing something on a whim.
She made an impulse decision to travel.