- [uncountable, singular]
something that encourages a process or activity to develop more quickly 動力；推動；促進；刺激 The debate seems to have lost much of its initial impetus. 辯論會似乎沒有開始時那麽大的沖勁了。 - impetus to something/to do something
to give (a) new/fresh impetus to something 給某事物以新的推進力 The Prime Minister’s support will give (an) added impetus to the campaign against crime. 首相的支持將進一步推動打擊犯罪的運動。 - impetus for something
His articles provided the main impetus for change. 他的那些文章是促進變革的主要推動力。
Extra ExamplesEach new rumour added fresh impetus to the smear campaign. 每有新的謠言傳出，就會刺激新一輪的诽謗活動。 His disappointment in the World Championships provided the necessary impetus to give everything for this final race. 他在世界錦標賽上的失利反而給了他必要的動力，使他爲了這次決賽全力以赴。 The movement is steadily gaining impetus. 這項運動得到穩步推動。 The riots lent impetus to attempts to improve conditions for prisoners. 騷亂推動當局作出努力改善囚犯服刑條件。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- great
- powerful
- …
- add
- give somebody/something
- lend something
- …
- come from something
- impetus behind somebody/something
- impetus for
- impetus towards/toward
- …
- [uncountable] (specialist)
the force or energy with which something moves 動量；動力；慣性 The slope added impetus to his speed. 斜坡令他跑得更快。
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘assault, force’, from impetere ‘assail’, from in- ‘towards’ + petere ‘seek’.