Meaning & Definition of word "Impulse"

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.