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jumping the gun

ADJECTIVE
impulsive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abrupt hasty impetuous instinctive offhand passionate spontaneous violent
WEAK
ad-lib automatic careless devil-may-care emotional extemporaneous flaky gone off deep end headlong hot-and-cold intuitive involuntary mad precipitate quick rash sudden swift unconsidered unexpected unmeditated unpredictable unpremeditated unprompted up-and-down winging it
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm deliberate planned sensible
WEAK
cautious considering heedful premeditative thoughtful wise
ADJECTIVE
premature
Synonyms
STRONGEST
hasty ill-considered untimely
WEAK
half-baked half-cocked inopportune overhasty precipitate previous too soon
Antonyms
WEAK
backward careful cautious delayed late mature overdue prepared slow

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.

This kind of jumping the gun is not the way things typically go in death cases, even in a state like Texas, which has a reputation for eagerly enforcing the death penalty.

From Salon • Jun. 29, 2025

Recent reports that six months had been agreed were dismissed as "jumping the gun" by a source close to the talks.

From BBC • Sep. 22, 2024

Am I jumping the gun a bit by celebrating sun songs in mid-March rather than during the dog days of summer?

From New York Times • Mar. 12, 2024

The EU earlier slapped a $475 million fine on Illumina for jumping the gun on the acquisition without its consent.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 17, 2023

And then, even though it’s jumping the gun a little, I write to Jordan Gripenwaldt, Shelby Padgett, Ashley Dunston, the three Brianas, and reporter Leticia Lopez, inviting them to contribute.

From "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven