impatience

/ɪmˈpeɪʃns/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈpeɪʃns/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)im-ˈpā-shən(t)s/ (ame, mw)

impatience — noun

1. the uncomfortable, restless feeling caused by someone being slow, making errors,

1.名詞B2
釋義

the uncomfortable, restless feeling caused by someone being slow, making errors, or by a delay that drags on longer than expected.

例句

Lien tapped her fingers on the desk, showing her impatience with the slow printer.

impatience with + [noun] for the source of annoyance

There was clear impatience in Karim's voice as he repeated the question for the third time.

impatience in [someone's voice/eyes] for visible expression

同義詞
  • irritation

    broader; covers any source of annoyance, not only waiting or slowness

  • exasperation

    stronger; suggests the patience has already run out

  • annoyance

    more general feeling of being bothered, with no link to waiting

反義詞
  • patience

    the direct opposite — calm acceptance of delay or mistakes

  • tolerance

    wider; willingness to put up with anything difficult, not only waiting

文法句型

impatience with [someone/something]

impatience at [situation]

用法筆記

Usually uncountable; takes the preposition 'with' for the person or thing causing it, and 'at' for the broader situation.

常見錯誤

❌She showed many impatiences at the meeting.
✅She showed a lot of impatience at the meeting.
💡impatience is uncountable; do not use a plural form.

2. a strong, restless eagerness for an event or activity to begin right away rather

2.名詞B2
釋義

a strong, restless eagerness for an event or activity to begin right away rather than later.

例句

Esme could hardly hide her impatience to open the birthday presents on the table.

impatience to + [verb] for an eager wish to act

Jabari counted the days with impatience for the summer holidays to begin.

impatience for + [noun] for eager expectation

同義詞
  • eagerness

    more positive; pure enthusiasm without the slight discomfort of waiting

  • anticipation

    focuses on the looking-forward feeling; less about the urge to act now

  • restlessness

    emphasises the inability to keep still while waiting

反義詞
  • patience

    calm willingness to wait for the right moment

文法句型

impatience to + [verb]

impatience for [noun]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about wanting something pleasant to happen, not about being annoyed. Often takes 'to + verb' or 'for + noun'.

常見錯誤

❌His impatience of starting the trip was clear.
✅His impatience to start the trip was clear.
💡use 'to + verb', not 'of + -ing', after impatience in this sense.