impatience
Americannoun
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lack of patience.
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eager desire for relief or change; restlessness.
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intolerance of anything that thwarts, delays, or hinders.
noun
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lack of patience; intolerance of or irritability with anything that impedes or delays
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restless desire for change and excitement
Etymology
Origin of impatience
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English impacience, from Latin impatientia; im- 2, patience
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In general, they always prefer early records because they’re filled with that youthful sort of impatience.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
The US President has previously signalled his impatience with the lack of swift progress in solving the four-year conflict.
From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026
Ahead of the election, Takaichi joked with teenagers about her impatience with 15-minute face packs during an interview widely shared online among her Generation-Z fanbase.
From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026
Microsoft’s post-earnings stock reaction was the most severe in nearly 13 years, highlighting investor impatience with the company’s artificial-intelligence spending relative to its ability to monetize AI.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026
The only time I have known him to show impatience is when the postman lags, for it means we must wait another day before the arrival of our English mail.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
