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

Adding impetus to their effort is the fact Israeli military strikes are now hitting UN peacekeeping bases in southern Lebanon, which house European troops. —Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 20 Oct. 2024

Although this significant event may come to be in 2022, its founder began her art journey long before its impetus. —Okla Jones, Essence, 3 Oct. 2024

The impetus to write this article was a question posed in the Gmail subreddit by a Gmail user whose main account had been compromised, despite having 2FA in place, and wanted to know if setting up a second account could be done without it being compromised by the same threat actor. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

For two of Usher’s dancers, the upbeat fare served as an impetus to take their bond to the next level. —Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 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)

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Kids Definition

impetus

noun

im·​pe·​tus ˈim-pət-əs 

1

a

: a driving force : impulse

b

: incentive

2

: momentum sense 1