impetus

American  

[im-pi-tuhs] / ˈɪm pɪ təs /

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.

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impetus British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of impetus

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

Example Sentences

That is part of the impetus behind his new book, “The Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg—and the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema.”

From Los Angeles Times

Geopolitics are also helping to improve economic conditions abroad, providing impetus for currencies to strengthen against the dollar.

From Barron's

"But the impetus for its creation was a desire to instill fiscal discipline, and that is something we wholeheartedly endorse."

From BBC

George Munsey - so often the man to provide impetus at the top of the order for Scotland - struggled to find the middle of the bat as he made 27 from 29 balls.

From BBC

Raza's unbeaten 13-ball 25 provided some late impetus as he struck their only six off the final ball of the innings.

From BBC

Related Words

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