Imperative
adjective / noun /ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/ — Of vital importance; a command — the grammatical form that doesn't ask, it tells.
Definition
Of vital importance; crucial; (grammar) a grammatical mood expressing a command or request; a thing of vital importance; an essential or urgent thing.
Beyond the definition
Imperative carries the full force of necessity — not preference but requirement. When something is imperative, there is no room for deferral. The grammar made this literal: the imperative mood is the command form, where even the 'you' subject can be omitted because it is assumed.
Origin & history
From Latin imperativus — expressing a command (from imperare: to command, from in: in + parare: to make ready). Command-expressing — the imperative is the form that commands.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
It was imperative that she act before morning — the window was closing.
The imperative of the situation: everyone in the room understood it without being told.
The grammatical imperative: the mood that removes choice from the sentence.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Imperative” when the meaning fits your context: Of vital importance; crucial; (grammar) a grammatical mood expressing a command or request; a thing of vital importance; an essential or urgent thing.
Synonyms
essential, crucial, mandatory, necessary, urgent
Antonyms
optional, unnecessary, voluntary
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Formality of Legal Processes
An adult stands in a grand, wood-paneled courtroom holding a document, the setting emphasizing the gravity of the legal process.
The grand, silent courtroom and the single document represent the weight of a legal imperative. The adult’s formal posture and commitment reflect the sense of crucial, vital importance that defines legal obligations and the formal processes that occur within such a setting.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Imperative" mean?
Imperative is adjective / noun meaning: Of vital importance; a command — the grammatical form that doesn't ask, it tells.. Of vital importance; crucial; (grammar) a grammatical mood expressing a command or request; a thing of vital importance; an essential or urgent thing.
Where does the word "Imperative" come from?
From Latin imperativus — expressing a command (from imperare: to command, from in: in + parare: to make ready). Command-expressing — the imperative is the form that commands.