involuntary impulse

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mary Taylor stirred in her seat under an involuntary impulse to help, but Cresswell touched the horse.

From The Quest of the Silver Fleece A Novel by Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt)

She glanced proudly at him once more, as by an involuntary impulse, and with a swelling breast rejoined, 'If what you say be true, he takes much needless trouble, sir, to compass his design.

From Barnaby Rudge: a tale of the Riots of 'eighty by Dickens, Charles

His own troops seemed to take the field with faintness and reluctance; but, in the heat of the battle, the Prætorian guards, almost by an involuntary impulse, asserted the superiority of their valor and discipline.

From History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 1 by Milman, Henry Hart

Rivers yesterday was throwing flowers at me and Lucy, in play, as we were walking in the garden; I catched a wallflower, and, by an involuntary impulse, kissed it, and placed it in my bosom.

From The History of Emily Montague by Brooke, Frances

He put his own hand on the back of the chair with an involuntary impulse.

From The Perpetual Curate by Oliphant, Mrs. (Margaret)