impetus

[im-pi-tuhs]

noun

plural

impetuses 

1. a moving force; impulse; stimulus.

   The grant for building the opera house gave impetus to the city's cultural life.

   Synonyms: boost, spur, stimulation

2. (broadly) the momentum of a moving body, especially with reference to the cause of motion.

impetus

/ ˈɪmpɪtəs /

noun

1. an impelling movement or force; incentive or impulse; stimulus

2. physics the force that sets a body in motion or that tends to resist changes in a body's motion

Word History and Origins

Origin of impetus¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin: “an attack,” literally, “a rushing into,” perhaps by haplology from unattested impetitus (though the expected form would be unattested impetītus; appetite ), equivalent to impetī-, variant stem of impetere “to attack” ( im- im- ¹ + petere “to make for, assault”) + -tus suffix of verb action

Word History and Origins

Origin of impetus¹

C17: from Latin: attack, from impetere to assail, from _im- (in) + petere to make for, seek out

Example Sentences

There are also black and white flashbacks to his childhood, and so we come to understand that this is the impetus behind the dark tone of the material Springsteen is writing.

Read more on Salon

Not that he’s blind to the impetus to hang on.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mr. Putin’s impetus in invading Ukraine was to re-establish the “motherland” as a global superpower—to restore the honor of the old Soviet and Russian empires.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We believe the impetus for this is AI companies needing to secure supply for DRAM, given increased demand from the AI space,” Danely wrote.

Read more on Barron's

"That was really the impetus... what it's like to be on stage at a comedy club. You know, we don't cut to the audience. We're just right on the person."

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• catalyst 
• impulse 
• incentive 
• momentum 
• motivation 
• stimulant