impetus

noun

im·​pe·​tus ˈim-pə-təs 

1

a(1)

: a driving force : impulse

(2)

: incentive, stimulus

b

: stimulation or encouragement resulting in increased activity

2

: the property possessed by a moving body in virtue of its mass and its motion

—used of bodies moving suddenly or violently to indicate the origin and intensity of the motion

Did you know?

Impetus Has Latin Roots

Impetus comes from the Latin verb impetere, meaning "to attack," which is a combination of the prefix in-, meaning "toward," with petere, meaning "to go to" or "to seek." Hence, impetus describes the kind of force that encourages an action ("The impetus behind the project") or the momentum of an action already begun ("The meetings only gave impetus to the rumors of a merger").

Synonyms

• boost
• encouragement
• goad
• impulse
• incentive
• incitation
• incitement
• instigation
• momentum
• motivation
• provocation
• spur
• stimulant
• stimulus
• yeast

Examples of impetus in a Sentence

In a revealing comment, Mr. Updike says an impetus for Rabbit, Run was the "threatening" success of Jack Kerouac's On the Road, the signature book of the 1950s Beat Generation, and its frenetic search for sensation. —Dennis Farney, Wall Street Journal, 16 Sept. 1992

But 1939 gave new impetus to the Western with the Cecil B. de Mille railway epic Union Pacific, John Ford's skillful and dramatic Stagecoach,  … and George Marshall's classic comic Western, Destry Rides Again. —Ira Konigsberg, The Complete Film Dictionary, 1987

… new techniques of navigation and shipbuilding enlarged trade and the geographical horizon; newly centralized power absorbed from the declining medieval communes was at the disposal of the monarchies and the growing nationalism of the past century gave it impetus … —Barbara W. Tuchman, The March of Folly, 1984

His discoveries have given impetus to further research.

the reward money should be sufficient impetus for someone to come forward with information about the robbery

Recent Examples on the Web

What was the impetus for the flag on the Stankonia cover? —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024

The true impetus for their overhaul, however, was climate-related. —Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 11 Dec. 2024

How that plays out depends on a number of factors, such as where the conflict starts and what the impetus is, which would shape the way all major actors and allies respond to whatever acts as the spark. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

For the time being, many of the impetuses to the ‘future of crime’ are human factors. —Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, assault, impetus, from impetere to attack, from in- + petere to go to, seek — more at feather

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

impetus

noun

im·​pe·​tus ˈim-pət-əs 

1

a

: a driving force : impulse

b

: incentive

2

: momentum sense 1