# impulse

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɪmpʌls/ · frequency rank #10,866

## Definitions
1. A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels.
2. A wish or urge, particularly a sudden one prompting action.
3. The integral of force over time.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French impulser, from Latin impulsus.
For spelling, as in pulse, the -e (on -lse) is so the end is pronounced /ls/, rather than /lz/ as in pulls, and does not change the vowel (‘u’). Compare else, false, convulse.

## Easily confused with
- **impure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/impulse-vs-impure)
- **impulses** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/impulse-vs-impulses)
- **impulsive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/impulse-vs-impulsive)
- **impose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/impose-vs-impulse)
- **impasse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/impasse-vs-impulse)

## Common misspellings (10)
`immpulse`, `impluse`, `imppulse`, `impules`, `impullse`, `impulsse`, `impusle`, `imuplse`, `ipmulse`, `mipulse`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/impulse