the imperative

noun

grammar

: the form that a verb or sentence has when it is expressing a command

"Eat your spinach!" is in the imperative.

Examples of the imperative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

How Facebook attempted to reconcile its data on such issues with the imperative to keep driving user engagement became the main subject of the Facebook Files, a series of reports published by the Journal in late 2021. — Marley Marius, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026

Operations And Cashflow Stabilization Once live, the imperative shifts to yield generation. — Dr. Dick Bridy, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Whatever solutions companies choose, the imperative for all responsible employers is to act—and to act now. — Oliver Balch, Fortune, 27 July 2026

In situations where principle and priority are at odds, though, the imperative of market competition wins and the environment loses. — Kyle Devine, Longreads, 14 July 2026

Rhymes for the imperative

• comparative
• declarative
• preparative