impetus
noun
im·pe·tus
ˈim-pə-təs 
1
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
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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").
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
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
However, America will be far better off when the impetus to adopt healthier habits falls on individuals and families, rather than Uncle Sam.
—Christina Smith, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2025
While Otis continued pitching for the next couple of years, helping lead Columbine to the Class 5A title as a junior, the impetus for her switch to full-time outfielder came a few weeks before the start of her senior season.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 8 June 2025
But the project was given fresh impetus following the British government’s 2021 apology and it was eventually commissioned as a straight documentary feature by Sky, before premiering at the recent SXSW.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 June 2025
Facing a deadly enemy can really work; in this case, creating a powerful enough impetus to continue shaping societies 2,500 years later.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for impetus
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Christina Smith, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2025
While Otis continued pitching for the next couple of years, helping lead Columbine to the Class 5A title as a junior, the impetus for her switch to full-time outfielder came a few weeks before the start of her senior season.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 8 June 2025
But the project was given fresh impetus following the British government’s 2021 apology and it was eventually commissioned as a straight documentary feature by Sky, before premiering at the recent SXSW.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 June 2025
Facing a deadly enemy can really work; in this case, creating a powerful enough impetus to continue shaping societies 2,500 years later.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for impetus
Cite this Entry
“Impetus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impetus. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impetus
noun
im·pe·tus
ˈim-pət-əs
2
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