Impulse
noun
A sudden strong feeling to do something.
I had an impulse to quit my job.
Often appears as...
- acting on impulse
- impulse to do something
noun
The power or driving force that results from a physical action or influence.
Impulse is equal to the change in momentum of an object when the object is acted upon by a force for an interval of time.
Often appears as...
- impulse force
- impulse response
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A short electrical signal.
These devices convert light into electrical impulses.
Often appears as...
- electrical impulse
- impulse response
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A strong wish to do something, without thinking about the results.
Even if you want to buy something, resist the impulse.
Often appears as...
- impulse buy
- impulse shopper
noun
A sudden strong feeling to do something.
I had an impulse to quit my job.
Often appears as...
- acting on impulse
- impulse to do something
noun
The power or driving force that results from a physical action or influence.
Impulse is equal to the change in momentum of an object when the object is acted upon by a force for an interval of time.
Often appears as...
- impulse force
- impulse response
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A short electrical signal.
These devices convert light into electrical impulses.
Often appears as...
- electrical impulse
- impulse response
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A strong wish to do something, without thinking about the results.
Even if you want to buy something, resist the impulse.
Often appears as...
- impulse buy
- impulse shopper
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Emotion origin
The 'impulse' to act stems from a sudden emotion rather than careful thought.
Seeing the injured animal by the road, she had an impulse to help.
Pro Tip 2/3Temporary feeling
'Impulse' often refers to a temporary desire that might quickly pass.
He bought the expensive shoes on an impulse, but later regretted it.
Pro Tip 3/3Acting without plan
Acting on 'impulse' means doing something unplanned.
She cut her hair on impulse and surprised everyone.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotion origin
The 'impulse' to act stems from a sudden emotion rather than careful thought.
Seeing the injured animal by the road, she had an impulse to help.
Pro Tip 2/3Temporary feeling
'Impulse' often refers to a temporary desire that might quickly pass.
He bought the expensive shoes on an impulse, but later regretted it.
Pro Tip 3/3Acting without plan
Acting on 'impulse' means doing something unplanned.
She cut her hair on impulse and surprised everyone.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotion origin
The 'impulse' to act stems from a sudden emotion rather than careful thought.
Seeing the injured animal by the road, she had an impulse to help.
Pro Tip 2/3Temporary feeling
'Impulse' often refers to a temporary desire that might quickly pass.
He bought the expensive shoes on an impulse, but later regretted it.
Pro Tip 3/3Acting without plan
Acting on 'impulse' means doing something unplanned.
She cut her hair on impulse and surprised everyone.
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Video examples
Your brain hallucinates...
and with the important idea of the brain as a prediction engine. Imagine being a brain. You're locked inside a bony skull, trying to figure what's out there in the world. There's no lights inside the skull. There's no sound either. All you've got to go on is streams of electrical impulses
Video examples
The nightmare videos of...
and munged them together in a way that no one really intended. And yet, this is also the way that we're building the entire world. We're taking all of this data, a lot of it bad data, a lot of historical data full of prejudice, full of all of our worst impulses of history,
Video examples
The power of introverts...
you probably have the impulse to guard very carefully what's inside your own suitcase. And that's okay. But occasionally, just occasionally, I hope you will open up your suitcases for other people to see, because the world needs you and it needs the things you carry.
Video examples
How design can help make...
in the universe carbon the quintessential connector and linchpin of life sodium the silvery white metal that's a key player in our body's ability to fire nerve impulses every element like the women who wear them plays an important role in shaping our
Video examples
The benefits of a good...
you guessed it, a good night's sleep. Sleep is composed of four stages, the deepest of which are known as slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement. EEG machines monitoring people during these stages have shown electrical impulses
Video examples
I grew up in the...
I realized that now I needed to learn. I needed to listen. This has been at the front of my mind lately, because I can't help but see in our public discourse so many of the same destructive impulses that ruled my former church.
Video examples
What really matters at...
for the millions of people living and dying with dementia. Primal sensorial delights that say the things we don't have words for, impulses that make us stay present -- no need for a past or a future.
Video examples
Shadows of Forgotten...
She risks being eaten in order to save her kin, and that's the key. Kin selection is that genetic impulse for self-sacrifice prevalent throughout the kingdoms of life, even us. Skeptical?
Video examples
Debunking the myths of...
a neurotransmitter that communicates between brain structures and helps regulate vital processes, such as mood, aggression, impulse control, sleep, appetite, body temperature and pain.
Video examples
How Intelligent Are...
impulses that are generated by all living things down to just five billions of a vote so it's hardly surprising that sharks are among the most successful predators in the ocean
Video examples
Your brain hallucinates...
and with the important idea of the brain as a prediction engine. Imagine being a brain. You're locked inside a bony skull, trying to figure what's out there in the world. There's no lights inside the skull. There's no sound either. All you've got to go on is streams of electrical impulses
Video examples
The nightmare videos of...
and munged them together in a way that no one really intended. And yet, this is also the way that we're building the entire world. We're taking all of this data, a lot of it bad data, a lot of historical data full of prejudice, full of all of our worst impulses of history,
Video examples
The power of introverts...
you probably have the impulse to guard very carefully what's inside your own suitcase. And that's okay. But occasionally, just occasionally, I hope you will open up your suitcases for other people to see, because the world needs you and it needs the things you carry.
Video examples
How design can help make...
in the universe carbon the quintessential connector and linchpin of life sodium the silvery white metal that's a key player in our body's ability to fire nerve impulses every element like the women who wear them plays an important role in shaping our
Video examples
The benefits of a good...
you guessed it, a good night's sleep. Sleep is composed of four stages, the deepest of which are known as slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement. EEG machines monitoring people during these stages have shown electrical impulses
Video examples
I grew up in the...
I realized that now I needed to learn. I needed to listen. This has been at the front of my mind lately, because I can't help but see in our public discourse so many of the same destructive impulses that ruled my former church.
Video examples
What really matters at...
for the millions of people living and dying with dementia. Primal sensorial delights that say the things we don't have words for, impulses that make us stay present -- no need for a past or a future.
Video examples
Shadows of Forgotten...
She risks being eaten in order to save her kin, and that's the key. Kin selection is that genetic impulse for self-sacrifice prevalent throughout the kingdoms of life, even us. Skeptical?
Video examples
Debunking the myths of...
a neurotransmitter that communicates between brain structures and helps regulate vital processes, such as mood, aggression, impulse control, sleep, appetite, body temperature and pain.
Video examples
How Intelligent Are...
impulses that are generated by all living things down to just five billions of a vote so it's hardly surprising that sharks are among the most successful predators in the ocean
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Carl Sagan
American Scientist
Today, we're still loaded down - and, to some extent, embarrassed - by ancient myths, but we respect them as part of the same impulse that has led to the modern, scientific kind of myth. But we now have the opportunity to discover, for the first time, the way the universe is in fact constructed as opposed to how we would wish it to be constructed.
Quote examples
Patti Smith
American Musician
More than anything, that's been the thread through my life - the desire to write, the impulse to write. I mean, it's taken me other places, but it was the impulse to write that led me to singing.
Quote examples
Gretchen Rubin
American Author
Often, the more reliably you perform a task, the less likely it is for someone to notice that you're doing it and to feel grateful and to feel any impulse to help or to take a turn.
Quote examples
Indya Moore
American Actor
In this world, people are violent toward people that they feel are conceptualized as smaller than them. It's an impulse that we have.
Quote examples
William James
American Philosopher
The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual. The impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community.
Quote examples
Gustav Mahler
Austrian Composer
I was a crazy young man who let himself be blinded by his passions and obeyed only the impulses of the moment.
Quote examples
Alexander Hamilton
American Politician
Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.
Quote examples
Rabindranath Tagore
Indian Poet
Love is not a mere impulse, it must contain truth, which is law.
Quote examples
George Packer
American Novelist
I need to protect myself from my own addictive impulse.
Quote examples
Douglas Coupland
Canadian Author
If you have an impulse to kindness, act on it.
Quote examples
Carl Sagan
American Scientist
Today, we're still loaded down - and, to some extent, embarrassed - by ancient myths, but we respect them as part of the same impulse that has led to the modern, scientific kind of myth. But we now have the opportunity to discover, for the first time, the way the universe is in fact constructed as opposed to how we would wish it to be constructed.
Quote examples
Patti Smith
American Musician
More than anything, that's been the thread through my life - the desire to write, the impulse to write. I mean, it's taken me other places, but it was the impulse to write that led me to singing.
Quote examples
Gretchen Rubin
American Author
Often, the more reliably you perform a task, the less likely it is for someone to notice that you're doing it and to feel grateful and to feel any impulse to help or to take a turn.
Quote examples
Indya Moore
American Actor
In this world, people are violent toward people that they feel are conceptualized as smaller than them. It's an impulse that we have.
Quote examples
William James
American Philosopher
The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual. The impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community.
Quote examples
Gustav Mahler
Austrian Composer
I was a crazy young man who let himself be blinded by his passions and obeyed only the impulses of the moment.
Quote examples
Alexander Hamilton
American Politician
Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.
Quote examples
Rabindranath Tagore
Indian Poet
Love is not a mere impulse, it must contain truth, which is law.
Quote examples
George Packer
American Novelist
I need to protect myself from my own addictive impulse.
Quote examples
Douglas Coupland
Canadian Author
If you have an impulse to kindness, act on it.
Example 1 of 10
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