1. Unable to wait patiently or tolerate delay; restless.
2. Unable to endure irritation or opposition; intolerant: impatient of criticism.
3. Expressing or produced by impatience: an impatient scowl.
4. Restively eager or desirous; anxious: impatient to begin.

[Middle English impacient, from Old French impatient, from Latin impatiēns, impatient- : in-, not; see in-¹ + patiēns, present participle of patī, to suffer, endure; see patient.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.