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
And the imperative is humanity.
—
CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Its demise is not collateral damage but the imperative.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
The thought is the imperative, to put the thoughts in the right place, to just be present, knowing that the camera will read those things.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Now, the imperative is to look as natural as possible using watercolor-effect textures that blend easily and have a fresh, see-through effect.
—Valentina Bottoni, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the imperative
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CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Its demise is not collateral damage but the imperative.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
The thought is the imperative, to put the thoughts in the right place, to just be present, knowing that the camera will read those things.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Now, the imperative is to look as natural as possible using watercolor-effect textures that blend easily and have a fresh, see-through effect.
—Valentina Bottoni, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the imperative
Cite this Entry
“The imperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20imperative. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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