impetus
- 01 C1 Advanced
the force or encouragement that makes a process start or happen more quickly.
a stimulating factor or impulse that provides the motivation for a specific activity or development.
Simple“The new government grant provided the impetus for the company to start its green energy project.”
In context“The sudden collapse of the regional bank provided the necessary impetus for the government to overhaul financial regulations.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'for' or 'to'.
SynonymsAntonymsdeterrentdiscouragement - 02 C1 Advanced
the energy or power of a moving object.
the force or energy associated with a moving body, often considered in terms of its momentum.
Simple“The car's impetus carried it through the fence and into the field.”
In context“The boulder gained impetus as it rolled down the steep slope, eventually crashing into the valley floor with immense force.”
UsageUncountable in most scientific contexts.
Usage give impetus · provide impetus
“Aston Villa lost Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans in the summer, so some extra attacking impetus in midfield was always going to be required.”
“Although vessel strikes affect other species , too, protecting this threatened population was the impetus behind NOAA’s original speed regulations.”
Borrowed from Latin impetus (“a rushing upon, an attack, assault, onset”), from impetō (“to rush upon, attack”), from in- (“upon”) + petō (“to seek, fall upon”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.