imperative

[ im-per-uh-tiv ]

/ ɪmˈpɛr ə tɪv /

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See synonyms for: imperative / imperatives / imperatively / imperativeness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

absolutely necessary or required; unavoidable: It is imperative that we leave.

of the nature of or expressing a command; commanding.

Grammar. noting or pertaining to the mood of the verb used in commands, requests, etc., as in Listen! Go!Compare indicative (def. 2), subjunctive (def. 1).

noun

a command.

something that demands attention or action; an unavoidable obligation or requirement; necessity: It is an imperative that we help defend friendly nations.

Grammar.

the imperative mood.
a verb in this mood.

an obligatory statement, principle, or the like.

OTHER WORDS FOR imperative

1 inescapable; indispensable, essential; exigent, compelling.

See synonyms for imperative on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of imperative

1520–30; <Late Latin imperātivus, equivalent to Latin imperāt(us) past participle of imperāre to impose, order, command (im-im-¹ + -per- (combining form of parāre to fur-nish (with), produce, obtain, prepare) + -ātus-ate¹) + -īvus-ive

OTHER WORDS FROM imperative

im·per·a·tive·ly, adverbim·per·a·tive·ness, nounnon·im·per·a·tive, adjectivenon·im·per·a·tive·ly, adverb

non·im·per·a·tive·ness, nounun·im·per·a·tive, adjectiveun·im·per·a·tive·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH imperative

imperative , imperial, imperious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use imperative in a sentence

There was a lot of positive feedback from people interested in non-gender binary people.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She ultimately ditched JSwipe after about a week and found her current, non-Jewish, boyfriend on OkCupid.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
An atheist counsels his fellow non-believers on how not to talk to people of faith.
The Case Against In-Your-Face Atheism|Steve Neumann|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The distinction between over-policing and non-responsiveness was alive and well in Bed-Stuy.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown|Batya Ungar-Sargon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Last summer, Louisiana also banned non-legal adoption, with offenders facing a penalty of $5,000 and up to five years in prison.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking|Tina Traster|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The expatriated ex-rebels became alarmed by the non-receipt of the indemnity instalment and the news from their homes.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
He also states that the Audiencia is virtually non-existent, and so there is no high court in which justice may be sought.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
Her glance wandered from his face away toward the Gulf, whose sonorous murmur reached her like a loving but imperative entreaty.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
De moi, je ne say qu'en dire, d'autant que je ne veux affirmer ny le si ny le non en ce dont je n'ay vidence.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Certes le capitaine Merveilles et ses gens monstrerent leur pit non vulgaire.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various

British Dictionary definitions for imperative

imperative

/ (ɪmˈpɛrətɪv) /

adjective

extremely urgent or important; essential

peremptory or authoritativean imperative tone of voice

Also: imperatival (ɪmˌpɛrəˈtaɪvəl) grammar denoting a mood of verbs used in giving orders, making requests, etc. In English the verb root without any inflections is the usual form, as for example leave in Leave me alone

noun

something that is urgent or essential

an order or command

grammar

the imperative mood
a verb in this mood

Derived forms of imperative

imperatively, adverbimperativeness, noun

Word Origin for imperative

C16: from Late Latin imperātīvus, from Latin imperāre to command

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for imperative

imperative

A grammatical category describing verbs that command or request: “Leave town by tonight”; “Please hand me the spoon.”

imperative

OTHER WORDS FOR imperative

Origin of imperative

OTHER WORDS FROM imperative

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH imperative

Words related to imperative

How to use imperative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for imperative

Derived forms of imperative

Word Origin for imperative

Cultural definitions for imperative