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Dictionary.com

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.

It might seem like a strange step, jumping the gun before a full ruling.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

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

But many voters will resist jumping the gun.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 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

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

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer