impulse
an instinctive motive
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,164 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 8,154 times across 175,113 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- an instinctive motive also: urge profound religious impulses
- a sudden desire also: caprice, whim he bought it on an impulse
- the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber also: nerve impulse, nervous impulse, neural impulse they demonstrated the transmission of impulses from the cortex to the hypothalamus
- (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients) also: pulsation, pulsing, pulse the pulsations seemed to be coming from a star
- the act of applying force suddenly also: impulsion, impetus the impulse knocked him over
- an impelling force or strength also: momentum the car's momentum carried it off the road
impulse in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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That was the ruling impulse in his life--his daughter Molly.
The Intrusion of Jimmy · P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse · Chapter 1
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Bobby experienced a swift impulse to strangle the brutal word in the detective's throat.
The Abandoned Room · Wadsworth Camp · Chapter 1
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With a common impulse the two girls waved their hands from the window as the car plunged forward.
The Empire Annual for Girls, 1911 · Various · Chapter 1
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He gathered fire as he moved, impulse expanded into momentum, and momentum became an Ariel fleeing before the dark.
The Money Master, Complete · Gilbert Parker · Chapter 1
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And when that son made his appearance, looking quite sheepish, his first impulse was to resort to his former mode of correction.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1