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impulse — a sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɪmpʌls/

Example Sentences

  • She bought 20 bags of chips on impulse and regretted it immediately.
  • His first impulse was to run away when he saw his ex-girlfriend at the party.
  • The impulse to check social media every five minutes is hard to resist.

impulse

NOUN

[/ˈɪmpʌls/]

a sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act

On impulse, the shopper bought an expensive guitar without thinking twice.
💡 Concept

On impulse, the shopper bought an expensive guitar without thinking twice.

She acted on impulse before her pulse had even slowed down.
🧠 Mnemonic

She acted on impulse before her pulse had even slowed down.

Her impulse to help others gave everyone new purpose.
🎵 Rhyme

Her impulse to help others gave everyone new purpose.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈɪmpʌls/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈɪmpʌls/

🌳Etymology

Prefixim--
Rootpuls

Origin

From Latin 'impulsus', the past participle of 'impellere', meaning 'to drive or push forward'. The word entered English in the 14th century through Old French.

Breakdown

im- (in/into) + puls (push, drive) + -e (verb ending) = impulse; literally 'to push into or drive forward'

🎵Rhyme

repulse
convulse

🔗Collocations

on impulse
sudden impulse
impulse buying
resist the impulse
give impulse to
nerve impulse

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“She bought 20 bags of chips on impulse and regretted it immediately.”

😄 Fun example

“His first impulse was to run away when he saw his ex-girlfriend at the party.”

“The impulse to check social media every five minutes is hard to resist.”

“The teacher's enthusiasm gave a new impulse to the students' learning.”

📚Related Words

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