imperative

[ im-per-uh-tiv ]

/ ɪmˈpɛr ə tɪv /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR imperative 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.

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

SYNONYMS FOR imperative

1 inescapable; indispensable, essential; exigent, compelling.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR imperative ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM imperative

im·per·a·tive·ly, adverb im·per·a·tive·ness, noun non·im·per·a·tive, adjective non·im·per·a·tive·ly, adverb

non·im·per·a·tive·ness, noun un·im·per·a·tive, adjective un·im·per·a·tive·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH imperative

imperative imperial imperious

Words nearby imperative

impenetrable, impenitent, impennate, imper., imperatival, imperative, imperator, imperatriz, imperceptible, imperception, imperceptive

Example sentences from the Web for imperative

For Reid, the imperative has to be confirming as many of the 34 district court nominees that are in the pipeline as possible.

What If the United States Had No Attorney General? |Eleanor Clift |November 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
And that very same Roosevelt no doubt still believed it was imperative for us to make America “fairly radical for a generation.”

Ken Burns’s ‘Roosevelts’ Fine But Flawed |Harvey J. Kaye |September 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Many lessons and commentaries are in the imperative voice, but not all.

Mike Leach Tackles Geronimo the Motivational Murderer |James A. Warren |August 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Incorvaia warned that talking “about a situation that the older generation brushes under the table” was imperative for Italians.

Italy’s Lost Generation: Youth Unemployment Hits Nearly 50 Percent |Barbie Latza Nadeau |June 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The absence of a cure makes prevention an imperative consideration.

Is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) the Next SARS? |Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad |May 3, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
It should be imperative (not optional, as at present) for every vessel to carry a certain number of lifebelts.

Saved by the Lifeboat |R.M. Ballantyne
My mouth is sealed from giving you the reasons, which nevertheless render it imperative on me to decline your generous offer.'

Henrietta Temple |Benjamin Disraeli
The ensuing silence was immediately broken by the child's imperative repetition of the word "story!"

Education in The Home, The Kindergarten, and The Primary School |Elizabeth P. Peabody
Their officers no doubt felt an equal chagrin, but the need was imperative.

Army Boys on the Firing Line |Homer Randall
He flung aside the whole work, got to his feet with the imperative need of an athlete for the open.

Birthright |T.S. Stribling

British Dictionary definitions for imperative

imperative

/ (ɪmˈpɛrətɪv) /

adjective

extremely urgent or important; essential

peremptory or authoritative an 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, adverb imperativeness, noun

Word Origin for imperative

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

Cultural definitions for imperative

imperative

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

imperative

adjective

noun

Origin of imperative

SYNONYMS FOR imperative

OTHER WORDS FROM imperative

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH imperative

Words nearby imperative

Example sentences from the Web for imperative

British Dictionary definitions for imperative

adjective

noun

Derived forms of imperative

Word Origin for imperative

Cultural definitions for imperative

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

imperative

adjective

noun

Origin of imperative

SYNONYMS FOR imperative

OTHER WORDS FROM imperative

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH imperative

Words nearby imperative

Words related to imperative

Example sentences from the Web for imperative

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for imperative

adjective

noun

Derived forms of imperative

Word Origin for imperative

Cultural definitions for imperative

British Dictionary definitions for imperative