Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

impulse

/ˈɪmpʌls/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.72 in modern English

Syllables: im-pulse
IPA: /ˈɪmpʌls/

11

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels.

noun

A wish or urge, particularly a sudden one prompting action.

noun

The integral of force over time.

verb

To impel; to incite.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"c. 1715-1716, Samuel Clarke, letter to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz All spontaneous animal motion is performed by mechanical impulse."
"The impulse to learn drove me to study night and day."
"When I saw the new book, I couldn't resist the impulse to browse through it."
"Theſe were my natural Impulses for the undertaking: […]"
"Tony's face expressed relief, and Nettie sat silent for a moment until the vicar said “It was a generous impulse, but it may have been a momentary one,[…].”"
"An impulse urged him to plant a sudden blow on it, by he forced himself to consider the impolicy of such an act."

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French impulser, from Latin impulsus.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: *pel- (beat), impulser, impulsus

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

impulses (plural) impulses (present, singular) impulsing (participle, present) impulsed (participle, past) impulsed (past)

Derived Forms

counterimpulse impulseless

Phrases

impulse-buy impulse buy impulse buyer impulse buying impulse control disorder impulse function impulse good impulse noise

Frequently Paired Words

impel impulsion impulsive impulsively impulsiveness impulsivity impulsor pulse

Synonyms

impulsion impetus momentum nerve impulse nervous impulse neural impulse pulsation pulsing pulse

Questions

How do you pronounce impulse?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɪmpʌls/.
What does impulse mean?: A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels.
Where does impulse come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce impulse

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