impatient

/ɪmˈpeɪʃənt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Restless, short of temper, and intolerant of delays.

Adjective

Examples

She dances when she becomes impatient.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Anxious and eager, especially to begin or have something.

Adjective

Examples

For, if (ſaid he) you throw among five Yahoos as much Food as would be ſufficient for fifty, they will, inſtead of eating peaceably, fall together by the ears, each ſingle one impatient to have all to itſelf; […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “impatient” mean?

Restless, short of temper, and intolerant of delays.

Is “impatient” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.