impatience
Americannoun
-
lack of patience.
-
eager desire for relief or change; restlessness.
-
intolerance of anything that thwarts, delays, or hinders.
noun
-
lack of patience; intolerance of or irritability with anything that impedes or delays
-
restless desire for change and excitement
Etymology
Origin of impatience
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English impacience, from Latin impatientia; see im- 2, patience
Explanation
Impatience is the tendency to be irritable or easily frustrated. A bus driver's impatience often results in her yelling, honking her horn, and gesturing angrily at other drivers. If you are easily annoyed or provoked, your impatience is showing. Impatience is also why you hate being late, or having to wait for something or someone. It comes from patience, the habit or trait of being able to wait calmly or even tolerate discomfort without complaining. The "opposite of" prefix im- tells you that impatience is the complete opposite.
Vocabulary lists containing impatience
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Selection Vocabulary 5, Unit 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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 his speech at the Fed’s Jackson Hole conference last month, Warsh expressed impatience with inflation, saying he wasn’t impressed by cooler inflation readings in June and July.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
Louisiana’s move seems to reflect a mixture of impatience and anxiety.
From Slate ● Sep. 16, 2026
And I also appreciate users’ impatience with glass-cockpit style environments and the numb tapping required for the most routine adjustment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
As their impatience grows, the window for Odysseus to reclaim his kingdom and restore a crumbling world to Zeus’ law — essentially open-hearted hospitality and treating others as you’d be treated — is closing.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 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.
