impulse

American  

[im-puhls] / ˈɪm pʌls /

noun

• impulses
  plural

1. the influence of a particular feeling, mental state, etc..

   to act under a generous impulse; to strike out at someone from an angry impulse.

2. sudden, involuntary inclination prompting to action.

   to be swayed by impulse.

3. an instance of this.

4. a psychic drive or instinctual urge.

5. an impelling action or force, driving onward or inducing motion.

6. the effect of an impelling force; motion induced; impetus given.

7. Physiology. a progressive wave of excitation over a nerve or muscle fiber, having either a stimulating or inhibitory effect.

8. Mechanics. the product of the average force acting upon a body and the time during which it acts, equivalent to the change in the momentum of the body produced by such a force.

9. Electricity. a single, usually sudden, flow of current in one direction.

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adjective

1. marked by or acting on impulse.

   an impulse buyer.

2. bought or acquired on impulse.

   To reduce expenses, shun impulse items when shopping.

impulse British  

/ ˈɪmpʌls /

noun

1. an impelling force or motion; thrust; impetus

2. a sudden desire, whim, or inclination

   I bought it on an impulse

3. an instinctive drive; urge

4. tendency; current; trend

5. physics

   1. the product of the average magnitude of a force acting on a body and the time for which it acts

   2. the change in the momentum of a body as a result of a force acting upon it for a short period of time

6. physiol See nerve impulse

7. electronics a less common word for pulse 1

8. spontaneously or impulsively

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impulse Scientific  

/ ĭm′pŭls′ /

1. A sudden flow of electrical current in one direction.

2. An electrical signal traveling along the axon of a neuron. Nerve impulses excite or inhibit activity in other neurons or in the tissues of the body, such as muscles and glands.

3. The change of momentum of a body or physical system over a time interval in classical mechanics, equal to the force applied times the length of the time interval over which it is applied.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• impulses
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of impulse

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin impulsus “incitement, pressure,” noun use of past participle of impellere “to strike against, set in motion”; see impel

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Explanation

An impulse is a sudden force or desire — this could be an electrical impulse, or an impulse to get some pizza. If you act on a sudden feeling or thought, you’re following an impulse. That's like a whim: an impulse isn't something you've given a lot of thought. Another meaning of impulse is an electrical charge or pulse. Electrical impulses are coursing through wires all through your house every day. Both kinds of impulses make things happen. The electrical impulse keeps the refrigerator going, and then you have an impulse to eat all the ice cream in the fridge.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

impulse impulses

Sometimes that slow-growth impulse took the form of NIMBYism.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

"It is spontaneity and impulse that make the difference, and that is ⁠what I felt we had with 'Alien,'" Skerritt said in a 2019 interview, according to Reuters news agency.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

This trick can stop him from making impulse buys and push him to comparison shop for better prices.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

Only Pamela Voorhees, brought to life by Linda Cardellini in “Crystal Lake,” has the guts to act on that impulse.

From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2026

Sure enough, the people who had thought the most before buying were the most satisfied, and those who had made impulse purchases more often regretted their decision.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

In the fullness of time it was arguably subjugated by the burgeoning corporation’s commercial impulses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

We all know what it feels like, even children recognize the feeling of effort, the effort of suppressing impulses.

From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026

Because weak self-control and fear of missing out were strongly associated with problematic use, the researchers emphasize helping young people manage impulses and feel less pressure to stay constantly connected.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

Adolescents already have a harder time than adults with planning ahead and controlling their impulses, because of the brain’s immature prefrontal cortex.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

He stood in front of the car, waiting for them to push him in, his eyes wide with astonishment, his impulses deadlocked, trying to remember something.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

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Related Words

• desire
• feeling
• inclination
• influence
• instinct
• motivation
• motive
• notion
• passion
• thought
• whim
• wish

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