Emotions / B1

im-PAYSHUNT/ɪmˈpeɪʃnt/

Impatient means annoyed at waiting, or eager for something now: impatient with the delay; impatient to start. Patient is the opposite (and also a noun for someone seeing a doctor). Impatience is the noun. Do not mix impatient with inpatients (people staying in hospital). Keen is eagerness without the irritation.

Meaning

Annoyed because you have to wait, or eager for something to happen now.

Examples

• “Passengers grew impatient after the third delay announcement.”
• “Shoppers grew impatient in the long pharmacy queue.”
• “She was impatient to hear the exam results, not angry with the staff.”

Good to know

impatient with + situation; impatient to + verb. Opposite: patient. Mix-up: inpatients (hospital). Noun: impatience.

Near in meaning

restless

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