1 impatience | Definition of impatience

impatience

noun
im·​pa·​tience | \ (ˌ)im-ˈpā-shən(t)s How to pronounce impatience (audio) \

Definition of impatience

: the quality or state of being impatient

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Examples of impatience in a Sentence

the child's impatience for Christmas morning is engaging

Recent Examples on the Web

The Bears have their own impatience to deal with after Cody Parkey missed a 43-yard field goal in the final minute of last January’s 16-15 playoff loss to the Eagles. Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, "Bears’ pursuit of Kaare Vedvik falls through as the Ravens trade the kicker to the Vikings," 11 Aug. 2019 Such unprecedented interventions say much about the central government’s growing impatience with the territory. The Economist, "A proposed extradition law triggers unrest in Hong Kong," 13 June 2019 Garner's family expressed impatience Friday over a resolution in the long-running dispute. Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY, "Police officer in Eric Garner's death, Daniel Pantaleo, should be fired, NYPD judge says," 2 Aug. 2019 As their pain increases, so too should our impatience with any ideology that renders us too cold to listen or too impotent to act. David Brog, National Review, "What Bret Stephens Gets Wrong about National Conservatives," 1 Aug. 2019 Lawmakers have also expressed impatience with the large number of acting executives in the Trump administration. Lolita C. Baldor, Fortune, "Iran Tensions Are Escalating—And the U.S. Doesn't Have a Permanent Defense Secretary," 21 June 2019 The people in line were polite in their impatience. Sally Schwartz Higginson, Lake County News-Sun, "Column: A desperate and routine search for a temporarily lost credit card," 12 June 2019 My profound impatience about small matters of everyday living is both a curse and an embarrassment. Gene Weingarten, Washington Post, "Gene Weingarten: How to deal with profound impatience? Try the Glass Bowl method.," 20 June 2019 Why is impatience signalled by the tapping of a toe, a gesture that telegraphs walking away? Paul Salopek, The New Yorker, "A Twenty-Four-Thousand-Mile Walk Across Human History," 17 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impatience.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of impatience

13th century, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for impatience

impatience

noun
im·​pa·​tience | \ im-ˈpā-shəns How to pronounce impatience (audio) \

Kids Definition of impatience

1 : the quality of not wanting to put up with or wait for something or someone : lack of patience Her impatience with the delay was obvious.
2 : restless or eager desire The dog pulled at the leash with an impatience to go faster.

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