impulsively

impulsively — adverb

1. acting or speaking on a sudden wish or feeling, without stopping to think about

1.adverbB2
Definition

acting or speaking on a sudden wish or feeling, without stopping to think about the result first

Example

Aiko impulsively bought a bright yellow jacket she did not need.

collocation: impulsively buy [item not needed]

The young couple impulsively decided to fly to Japan that same night.

collocation: impulsively decide to [do something]

Common collocations
  • act impulsively
  • buy impulsively
  • decide impulsively
  • react impulsively
  • speak impulsively
  • respond impulsively
  • spend impulsively
Synonyms
  • spontaneously

    more positive in tone, suggesting naturalness rather than poor judgment

  • rashly

    stronger negative connotation, implying the action was unwise or reckless

  • hastily

    focuses on speed and lack of time taken, not necessarily on emotional impulse

  • recklessly

    strongest level, implying disregard for danger or serious harm

Antonyms

Usage Note

Commonly modifies verbs of action, decision, or speech such as buy, decide, speak, act, react, and respond. The adverb often appears before the verb (impulsively bought) or at the end of the clause (spoke impulsively). Using it usually suggests mild criticism or later regret.

Common Mistakes

She compulsively bought the dress without thinking.
She impulsively bought the dress without thinking.
'compulsively' describes a repetitive, uncontrollable urge, while 'impulsively' is about a single unplanned act.
He spontaneously quit his job on a bad review.
He impulsively quit his job after one bad review.
'spontaneously' has a positive feel of naturalness; 'impulsively' better fits an unwise, hasty decision.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Impulsively, spontaneously, rashly, hastily, and recklessly all describe actions taken without careful planning, but they differ in tone and connotation. Impulsively emphasises acting on a sudden whim or feeling, often with mild regret afterwards. Spontaneously has a more positive feel, suggesting naturalness and flexibility rather than poor judgment. Rashly carries stronger criticism, implying the action was unwise or even dangerous. Hastily focuses on speed, suggesting the person did not take enough time to think. Recklessly is the strongest, implying a clear disregard for potential harm. For example, 'Aiko impulsively bought a yellow jacket' suggests a minor regret over an unplanned purchase, but 'Aiko recklessly drove through the red light' describes dangerous, irresponsible behaviour.

spontaneously ↗rashlyhastilyrecklessly ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • act impulsively
  • buy impulsively
  • decide impulsively
  • react impulsively
  • speak impulsively
  • respond impulsively
  • spend impulsively

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Impulsively is formed from the adjective impulsive (describing someone who acts on sudden urges) plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly. Impulsive itself comes from the noun impulse, which was borrowed through French from the Latin impulsus, meaning 'a push against' or 'a driving force'. The idea of acting on an inner push has been part of English since the 18th century.