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

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

Mr Shapps wrote: "Suppliers are clearly jumping the gun and moving at-risk customers on to prepayment meters before offering them the support they are entitled to."

From BBC • Jan. 22, 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

Related Words