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Definition of impulse : 1. A mental force which simply and directly urges to action; hasty inclination; sudden motive; momentary or transient influence of appetite or passion; propension; incitement; as, a man of good impulses; passion often gives a violent impulse to the will.
2. The act of impelling, or driving onward with sudden force; impulsion; especially, force so communicated as to produced motion suddenly, or immediately.
3. The action of a force during a very small interval of time; the effect of such action; as, the impulse of a sudden blow upon a hard elastic body.
4. The effect of an impelling force; motion produced by a sudden or momentary force.
5. To impel; to incite.

Synonyms:

turn, heart rate, drift, your inner self, appetite, freak, caprice, whimsey, genius, product, brownout, twinge, emotion, aptitude, arc light, vagary, heart, passion, pulse, fit, offering, predisposition, spontaneity, extemporization, loss leader, boost, frame of mind, bundle, blackout, temper, heartbeat, wish, humor, bone, active, come-on, pressure, pulsing, spurt, yeast, appeal, proneness, longing, nerve impulse, incitation, arc, feelings, liking, impulsion, thought, zest, habitude, stroke, affection, shock, outburst, rush, conceit, inclination, notion, tendency, charge, surge, hunch, merchandise, goods, megrim, flush, motive, devices, propensity, lust, neural impulse, movement, beat, appetency, pulse rate, encouragement, bias, flash, AC, sensation, undercurrent, vibration, throb, leaning, proclivity, cause, fillip, stimulator, bee, augmentation, craving, itch, whim, acquisition, desire, wares, stimulant, penchant, partiality, disposition, relish, goad, predilection, spasm, boutade, spur, fancy, mood, pulsation, inspiration, thirst, affinity, whimsy, alternating current, consumer goods, propulsion, bent, urge, nervous impulse

motivation, knock, shove, push, punch, jerk, pitch, bump, momentum, nudge, strike, prod, poke, jog, thrust, shot, sling, jolt

incentive, energy, stimulation, inducement, provocation, instigation, impetus, lure, incitement, drive, stimulus

Usage examples:

• He acted on impulse, and too often had reason to be sorry for it; but he hated his sorrow too much to let it teach him wisdom for the future. - "Sylvia's Lovers -- Complete", Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell.
• Frank had an impulse to jump at the chance- though there was a warning coming to him from somewhere. - "The Planet Strappers", Raymond Zinke Gallun.
• The impulse to carry his mischief still further was at once acted upon, and he offered to see the doctor safely home. - "A Knight Of The Nineteenth Century", E. P. Roe.