impatient

adjective

im·​pa·​tient (ˌ)im-ˈpā-shənt 

1

a

: not patient : restless or short of temper especially under irritation, delay, or opposition

grew impatient waiting for their friends

b

: intolerant sense 1

impatient of delay

2

: prompted or marked by impatience

an impatient reply

3

: eagerly desirous : anxious

impatient to get home

impatiently adverb

Synonyms of impatient

• excited
• enthusiastic
• avid
• eager
• anxious
• hungry
• ardent

Examples of impatient in a Sentence

After months of delays, customers are becoming impatient.

Customers have grown impatient with the repeated delays.

“Aren't you ready yet?” “Don't be so impatient. There's no need to hurry.”

She was impatient to leave.

Recent Examples on the Web

The viral video shared on Instagram last Sunday under the username @hammyandolivia, shows the 18-month-old Pembroke Welsh corgi, Fiona, running toward her best friend, dragging her owner on the leash, impatient to give the Alaskan Malamute a proper greeting. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

When Boulez became impatient, Dohnányi smiled broadly. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025

Spring pointed to the company’s missteps last decade, as investors grew impatient with Macy’s and its middling performance. —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025

Like an impatient parent scolding their toddler, Frankenstein grows frustrated with his monster’s limited capacity for speech. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English impacient, from Anglo-French impacient, from Latin impatient-, impatiens, from in- + patient-, patiens patient

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for impatient

• inpatient
• outpatient
• patient

Kids Definition

impatient

adjective

im·​pa·​tient (ˈ)im-ˈpā-shənt 

1

: not patient

an impatient disposition

2

: showing or coming from impatience

an impatient answer

3

: restless and eager

impatient to get going

impatiently adverb