impulse

1 of 2

noun

im·​pulse ˈim-ˌpəls 

1

a

: a sudden spontaneous inclination or incitement to some usually unpremeditated action

a natural/creative/sudden/irresistible impulse

—often followed by to + a verb

The sight … seemed so ridiculous that Paper had to stifle the impulse to laugh.

—James McBride

I quit my job on an impulse. [=suddenly and without thinking about it first]

The car was an impulse buy/purchase. [=something bought on an impulse and usually not really needed]

b

: a propensity or natural tendency usually other than rational

Usually the wish to be thought of well remains. … as a restraint upon impulses of greed.

—Bertrand Russell

2

a

: a wave of excitation transmitted through tissues and especially nerve fibers and muscles that results in physiological activity or inhibition see nerve impulse

b

: the act of driving onward with sudden force : impulsion

c

: motion produced by such an impulsion : impetus

3

a

: pulse sense 4a

b

: the product of the average value of a force and the time during which it acts : the change in momentum produced by the force

4

a

: inspiration, motivation

He received from America fresh artistic impulses …

—Anatole Chujoy

b

: a force so communicated as to produce motion suddenly

c

: incentive

impulse

2 of 2

verb

im·​pulse ˈim-ˌpəls 

im-ˈpəls

impulsed; impulsing

transitive verb

: to give an impulse to

Synonyms of impulse

Noun

• incentive
• impetus
• encouragement
• stimulus
• motivation

Choose the Right Synonym for impulse

motive, impulse, incentive, inducement, spur, goad mean a stimulus to action.

motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act.

a motive for the crime

impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution.

buying on impulse

incentive applies to an external influence (such as an expected reward) inciting to action.

a bonus was offered as an incentive

inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another.

offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe

spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor.

fear was a spur to action

goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or desire.

thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency

Examples of impulse in a Sentence

Noun

He has to learn to control his impulses.

the new auto factory was just the impulse that the local economy needed

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But these impulses are growing within the Democratic Party as well. —Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025

Citi Bike stemmed from a practical impulse. —Evan Friss, Time, 3 Nov. 2025

Verb

And there’s an undeniable charge in scaling that impulse up so dramatically, in putting this nearly 26-foot-tall Black man, rendered as an expansive, poetic monument, in the middle of a major art gallery. —Will Heinrich, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025

The Life of Chuck, his third King adaptation, services that impulse. —Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin impulsus, from impellere to impel

First Known Use

Noun

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Verb

1611, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing impulse

• impulse buy/purchase
• nerve impulse
• on an impulse
• specific impulse

Kids Definition

impulse

noun

im·​pulse

ˈim-ˌpəls

1

a

: a force that starts a body into motion

b

: the motion produced by an impulse

2

: a sudden stirring up of the mind and spirit to do something

an impulse to run away

buy something on impulse

3

: nerve impulse

4

: pulse entry 2 sense 3a

Medical Definition

impulse

noun

im·​pulse ˈim-ˌpəls 

1

: a wave of excitation transmitted through tissues and especially nerve fibers and muscles that results in physiological activity or inhibition

2

a

: a sudden spontaneous inclination or incitement to some usually unpremeditated action

some uncontrollable impulse … may have driven the defendant to the commission of the murderous act

—B. N. Cardozo

b

: a propensity or natural tendency usually other than rational

the fundamental impulse of self-expression

—Havelock Ellis