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⇱ imperative - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


imperative

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(im perə tiv)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
im•per•a•tive /ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. absolutely necessary:[usually: It + be + ~ + (that) clause]It is imperative that we leave.
  2. of the nature of, or expressing, a command;
    of or naming a grammatical mood used in commands, as in Listen! Go! Compare indicative (def. 2),subjunctive (def. 1).

n. 
  1. [countable] a command;
    order.
  2. an unavoidable requirement:[countable]the imperatives of leadership.
  3. Grammar the imperative mood;
    a verb form in this mood:[uncountable;usually: the + ~]Use the imperative in this sentence.
im•per•a•tive•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
im•per•a•tive  (im perə tiv),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. absolutely necessary or required;
    unavoidable:It is imperative that we leave.
  2. of the nature of or expressing a command;
    commanding.
  3. Grammarnoting or pertaining to the mood of the verb used in commands, requests, etc., as in Listen! Go! Cf. indicative (def. 2), subjunctive (def. 1).

n. 
  1. a command.
  2. something that demands attention or action;
    an unavoidable obligation or requirement;
    necessity:It is an imperative that we help defend friendly nations.
  3. Grammar
    • the imperative mood.
    • a verb in this mood.
  4. an obligatory statement, principle, or the like.
  • Late Latin imperātivus, equivalent. to Latin imperāt(us) past participle of imperāre to impose, order, command (im- im-1 + -per- (combining form of parāre to fur-nish (with), produce, obtain, prepare) + -ātus -ate1) + -īvus -ive
  • 1520–30
im•pera•tive•ly, adv. 
im•pera•tive•ness, n. 
    1. inescapable; indispensable, essential; exigent, compelling.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
imperative /ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/ adj
  1. extremely urgent or important; essential
  2. peremptory or authoritative: an imperative tone of voice
  3. Also: imperatival /ɪmˌpɛrəˈtaɪvəl/ denoting a mood of verbs used in giving orders, making requests, etc. In English the verb root without any inflections is the usual form, as for example leave in Leave me alone
n
  1. something that is urgent or essential
  2. an order or command
    • the imperative mood
    • a verb in this mood
Etymology: 16th Century: from Late Latin imperātīvus, from Latin imperāre to commandimˈperatively adv imˈperativeness n
'imperative' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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