adj
imperative
ihm-PEHR-uh-tihv
adj
1
Extremely important; essential.
"It is imperative that we finish before the deadline."
2
Relating to the grammatical mood used for commands.
""Sit down" is an imperative sentence."
noun
1
Something absolutely necessary.
"Reducing emissions has become an economic imperative."
2
The grammatical mood used to give orders or instructions.
"In English, the imperative uses the base form of the verb."
How to Use Imperative
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething absolutely necessary, or (in grammar) the command form of a verb.
Common pairings
moral imperative
imperative mood
business imperative
Word Forms
more imperative comparative, imperatives plural, most imperative superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “imperative”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
It is _____ that we finish before the deadline.
Etymology
From Latin imperativus, related to imperare, "to command".