jumping the gun

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impulsive adj.
premature adj.

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.

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jumping the gun

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

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

He started working the speed bag, only to be kicked out again for jumping the gun before he was ready.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2023

“We’d be jumping the gun if we answer your question,” about the new vehicles, he told an analyst.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 1, 2023

I still had an hour, but my mom was well known for jumping the gun.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

jumping the gun

Example Sentences

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