Definition of imperative
1a : of, relating to, or constituting the grammatical mood that expresses the will to influence the behavior of anotherb : expressive of a command, entreaty, or exhortationc : having power to restrain, control, and direct
2 : not to be avoided or evaded : necessary an imperative duty
imperatively
adverbimperativeness
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of imperative in a Sentence
… I have begun to feel each time as if I am mutilating my antennae (which is how Rastafarians, among others, think of hair) and attenuating my power. It seems imperative not to cut my hair anymore. —Alice Walker, Living by the Word, (1981) 1988
This strange and distorted form of breathing could be interrupted for a minute or two by a strong effort of will, but would then resume its bizarre and imperative character. —Oliver Sacks, Awakenings, 1973
We had a long and interesting evening with the Katzenbachs. He and Lyndon discussed the imperative need to make Washington a law-abiding city and how to go about it. —Lady Bird Johnson, 27 Jan. 1965, A White House Diary, 1970
“Eat your spinach!” is an imperative sentence.
“Help” in the sentence “Help me!” is an imperative verb.
a verb in the imperative mood
People resented his imperative tone of voice.
Recent Examples of imperative from the Web
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Frank Tobe, the publisher and editor of a trade magazine called The Robot Report, said government investment was imperative.
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The need for this Court’s review is thus truly imperative.
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But this year seems to bring with it a moral imperative to have uncomfortable conversations about the very real stakes of this election.
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This is both a moral imperative and a national necessity.
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And with the invariably tight Metropolitan Division race ahead, a fast start is imperative for the Islanders, especially since 22 of their first 34 games are at home.
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The government must keep running, and in a crisis, presidents will inevitably conclude that their plan is imperative.
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Hot water might not sound like a big deal to some people, but H2O being at the proper temperature is imperative to making sure dishes, utensils and more stay sanitary.
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Deal, who casts his constitutional amendment as a moral imperative, has his own big-money campaign brewing.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'imperative'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of imperative
Middle English imperatyf, from Late Latin imperativus, from Latin imperatus, past participle of imperare to command — more at emperor
First Known Use: 15th century
Synonym Discussion of imperative
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
Definition of imperative
1 : the grammatical mood that expresses the will to influence the behavior of another or a verb form or verbal phrase expressing it
2 : something that is imperative (see 1imperative): such asa : command, orderb : rule, guidec : an obligatory act or dutyd : an obligatory judgment or proposition
Examples of imperative in a Sentence
Ellroy has got to be the only writer who still uses “dig” as an imperative … —Laura Miller, New York Times Book Review, 20 May 2001
Indeed, under pressure from a new way of life in which radiant heat from woodburning stoves must circulate unimpeded by dividers, virtually every house with a chimney today has abandoned the closed-door imperative of the high-technology kitchen. —Maxine Kumin, In Deep, 1987
“Maturity” had been a code word … for marriage and settling down; “growth” implied a plurality of legitimate options, if not a positive imperative to keep moving from one insight or experience to the next. —Barbara Ehrenreich, New York Times Magazine, 20 May 1984
She considers it a moral imperative to help people in need.
“Eat your spinach!” is in the imperative.
“Go” and “buy” are imperatives in the sentence “Please go to the store and buy some milk.”
Recent Examples of imperative from the Web
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Expanding coverage is seen not as a political issue, but as a clinical and financial imperative.
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Jenna worries that the company’s business imperatives — growth and scaling, at any cost — make that nearly impossible.
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Machines that can learn from their own experience and communicate with one another on their own raise both a practical and a moral imperative to find a way to keep mankind from destroying itself.
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Mr. Massiah, the man heading UBI Banca, confronts a contradictory set of imperatives.
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Deferring to the script’s lockstep imperatives, Mottola only glances at the substantial pathos built into the role.
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Those areas, which IBM calls strategic imperatives, aren’t growing fast enough yet to offset revenue declines in its core hardware, software and services business.
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There is also an economic imperative to move toward integration.
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But thanks to the niche imperative, this charming, oddball exercise in cultural excavation is back for a second season, beginning on Wednesday.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'imperative'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of imperative
see 1imperative
First Known Use: 1530
IMPERATIVE Defined for English Language Learners
imperative
playDefinition of imperative for English Language Learners
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: very important
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grammar : having the form that expresses a command rather than a statement or a question
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: expressing a command in a forceful and confident way
imperative
playDefinition of imperative for English Language Learners
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: a command, rule, duty, etc., that is very important or necessary
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grammar the imperative : the form that a verb or sentence has when it is expressing a command
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: an imperative verb or sentence
IMPERATIVE Defined for Kids
Medical Dictionary
imperative
playMedical Definition of imperative
: eliciting a motor response an imperative stimulus
Learn More about imperative
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See words that rhyme with imperative Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for imperative Spanish Central: Translation of imperative Nglish: Translation of imperative for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of imperative for Arabic speakers
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