impulse

impulse — noun

1. A sudden, strong feeling of wanting to do something, often without thinking care

1.名詞B1
釋義

A sudden, strong feeling of wanting to do something, often without thinking carefully about the results or possible problems.

例句

Noor felt a sudden impulse to jump into the lake with her clothes on.

impulse + to-infinitive for sudden desire

Minho resisted the impulse to check his phone during the meeting.

resist the impulse to [verb]

同義詞
  • urge

    A strong desire that you feel inside; 'urge' suggests a more physical or emotional pressure than 'impulse'.

  • whim

    A sudden but often short-lived or less serious desire; 'whim' sounds lighter than 'impulse'.

  • compulsion

    A very strong, hard-to-resist desire, often linked to anxiety or habit rather than a momentary thought.

反義詞
  • deliberation

    Careful thought before acting, the opposite of acting without planning.

  • plan

    A decision made in advance, the opposite of a sudden unplanned wish.

文法句型

impulse + to-infinitive

on impulse (adverbial phrase)

用法筆記

The phrase 'on impulse' means doing something suddenly without planning. An 'impulse buy' or 'impulse purchase' refers to an unplanned item bought at the counter. 'Impulse control' is the ability to resist sudden desires.

常見錯誤

❌He had an impulse of buying a new phone.
✅He had an impulse to buy a new phone.
💡'impulse' takes a to-infinitive, not 'of + gerund'.
❌I did it by impulse.
✅I did it on impulse.
💡The correct preposition is 'on', not 'by'.

2. A short electrical or chemical signal that travels through a nerve, wire, or oth

2.名詞B2
釋義

A short electrical or chemical signal that travels through a nerve, wire, or other pathway, carrying information from one part of a body or machine to another.

例句

The nerve impulse travelled from Mateo's fingertip to his brain in a split second.

nerve impulse — biological / medical context

An electrical impulse from the pacemaker kept the patient's heart beating steadily.

electrical impulse in medical device context

同義詞
  • signal

    A broader term; 'signal' can be any transmitted message, while 'impulse' implies a short, sharp burst.

  • pulse

    Overlaps with 'impulse' in electronics, but 'pulse' is more common for energy bursts and heartbeat; 'impulse' emphasizes the single brief event.

文法句型

nerve impulse

electrical impulse

用法筆記

Common in biology, medicine, and electronics. In anatomy, 'nerve impulse' is the electrical message moving through a neuron. In electronics, 'electrical impulse' or 'pulse' is a brief signal sent through a circuit. Do not confuse with 'pulse', which refers to the physical beating of the heart.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor measured his nerve impulses at the wrist.
✅The doctor took his pulse at the wrist.
💡For heartbeat rhythm, use 'pulse'; 'nerve impulses' are electrical signals in the nervous system, not blood flow.

3. A strong force or influence that causes something to happen, develop, or make pr

3.名詞B2
釋義

A strong force or influence that causes something to happen, develop, or make progress.

例句

The desire for fairness was the main impulse behind the new school policy.

impulse behind [something] — cause/reason pattern

Ada's creative impulse pushed her to leave her office job and become a full-time potter.

creative impulse — abstract motivation collocation

同義詞
  • impetus

    Almost identical in meaning but more formal; 'impetus' is very common in academic writing for 'a force that starts a process'.

  • motivation

    Broader and more personal; 'motivation' refers to the internal reasons a person has, while 'impulse' suggests an outward-driving energy.

  • stimulus

    Often used in economics or psychology; 'stimulus' is an external factor that causes a reaction, whereas 'impulse' can be internal.

反義詞
  • deterrent

    Something that discourages action or progress.

  • obstacle

    A barrier that slows or stops a forward movement or development.

文法句型

impulse behind [something]

main/creative/political impulse

用法筆記

This sense is common in formal, academic, and journalistic writing. It describes the underlying motivation of a movement, policy, or change. The 'impulse' is often followed by 'behind' or 'toward' to name the goal. Unlike sense 1, this is not about a momentary urge but a sustained driving energy.

常見錯誤

❌He had an impulse behind studying harder.
✅His main impulse was to get into a good university.
💡'Impulse behind' is used with abstract movements or policies, not personal daily goals. For personal motivation, use 'reason' or 'motive'.

impulse — verb