impulse

noun
UK: /ˈɪmpʌls/
US: /ˈɪmpʌls/

  1. A sudden strong desire to do something without thinking about the results.

    1. I had an impulse to buy a new dress.
    2. The sudden impulse to quit his job overwhelmed his usual cautious nature.

  2. A force that causes something to start moving or change direction.

    1. The impulse made the ball roll fast.
    2. A financial crisis can provide the impulse for significant economic reform.

  3. An electrical signal that travels through nerves and causes the body to react.

    1. The nerve impulse traveled quickly.
    2. Damage to the spinal cord can disrupt the transmission of nerve impulses.

Synonyms

urge desire whim motive drive stimulus
impulse transitive-verb

  1. To cause something to begin or develop; to give impetus to.

    1. The win impulsed him forward.
    2. New technologies impulsed significant changes in the industry's workflow.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "impulse" in English means: A sudden strong desire to do something without thinking about the results., A force that causes something to start moving or change direction., An electrical signal that travels through nerves and causes the body to react..

The phonetic transcription of "impulse" is /ˈɪmpʌls/ in British English and /ˈɪmpʌls/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "impulse": urge, desire, whim, motive, drive, stimulus.

Example usage of "impulse": "I had an impulse to buy a new dress.". More examples on the page.