What does “impetuous” mean?

impetuous


Oh, this is a good one —

It means someone who acts very fast, without thinking first. They just feel something and go — no pause, no plan.

Like if your friend sees a cute puppy on the street and just runs over without looking both ways — that's impetuous. Or imagine someone who gets angry and quits their job on the spot, right in the moment, without thinking about next week or next month. You might say, "Wow, that was really impetuous of him."

It can also describe decisions, not just people — "It was an impetuous choice to move to a new city after just one visit."

Sometimes it feels exciting and bold, sometimes a little reckless — depends on the situation!

So basically: impetuous = acting on strong feelings, fast, without stopping to think first.

Related words

The dictionary you'll enjoy reading.

What is Hey Dictionary?

Hey Dictionary explains words, slang, and idioms the way a native friend would — casual, with real examples — instead of a stiff, formal definition. Type a word and read it like a text from a friend.

Benefits of using Hey

  • deeper & more nuanced understanding of the word
  • greatly increase comprehensible input
  • learn natural spoken language
  • make language learning more fun

Who is Hey for?

  • Casual language learners (travel, making friends, cultural exchange)
  • People who prioritize verbal over written expression
  • People tired of ordinary, boring dictionaries

How to use Hey (effectively)?

  1. 1.Enter a word or short phrase you want to learn
  2. 2.Read the explanation in the target language
  3. 3.Highlight words to check their pronunciation

FAQ

Yes. The main lookup feature is free and needs no login.