Definitions for imperative
ɪmˈpɛr ə tɪvim·per·a·tive

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. imperative mood, imperative, jussive mood, imperative formnoun

   a mood that expresses an intention to influence the listener's behavior

2. imperativeadjective

   some duty that is essential and urgent

3. imperativeadjective

   requiring attention or action

   "as nuclear weapons proliferate, preventing war becomes imperative"; "requests that grew more and more imperative"

4. imperativeadjective

   relating to verbs in the imperative mood

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. imperativenoun

   The grammatical mood expressing an order (see jussive). In English, the imperative form of a verb is the same as that of the bare infinitive.

   The verbs in sentences like "Do it!" and "Say what you like!" are in the imperative.

2. imperativenoun

   A verb in imperative mood.

3. imperativenoun

   An essential action, a must: something which is imperative.

   Visiting Berlin is an imperative.

4. imperativeadjective

   essential

   It is imperative that you come here right now.

5. imperativeadjective

   Having a semantics that incorporates mutable variables.

6. Etymology: From imperativus.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Imperativeadjective

   Commanding; expressive of command.

   Etymology: imperatif, Fr. imperativus, Latin.

   The verb is formed in a different manner, to signify the intention of commanding, forbidding, allowing, disallowing, intreating; which likewise, from the principal use of it, is called the imperative mood. John Clarke, Latin Grammar.

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Imperativeadjective

   expressive of command; containing positive command; authoritatively or absolutely directive; commanding; authoritative; as, imperative orders

2. Imperativeadjective

   not to be avoided or evaded; obligatory; binding; compulsory; as, an imperative duty or order

3. Imperativeadjective

   expressive of commund, entreaty, advice, or exhortation; as, the imperative mood

4. Imperativenoun

   the imperative mood; also, a verb in the imperative mood

5. Etymology: [L. imperativus, fr. imperare to command; pref. im- in + parare to make ready, prepare: cf. F. impratif. See Perade, and cf. Empire.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Imperative

   im-per′a-tiv, adj. expressive of command: authoritative: peremptory: obligatory.—adv. Imper′atively.—Imperative mood, the form of a verb expressing command or advice; Categorical imperative (see under Category). [L. imperativus—imperāre, to command—in, in, parāre, to prepare.]

Matched Categories

1. • Grammar
   • Mood

How to pronounce imperative?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say imperative in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of imperative in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of imperative in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of imperative in a Sentence

1. Sinn Fein McGuinness:

   The British government now has no democratic mandate to represent the views of the North in any future negotiations with the European Union and I do believe that there is a democratic imperative for a 'border poll' to be held, the implications for all of us on the island of Ireland are absolutely massive. This could have very profound implications for our economy (in Northern Ireland).

2. New York:

   The White House, Speaker Pelosi and New York are discussing those and we believe that we must do this. We will do The White House because The White House's imperative to do The White House.

3. Benjamin Weiss:

   The key for this mission will be identifying samples so compelling that we can't afford to leave them, so it is imperative that missions have to go get them, we are selecting these for humanity, so we need to make sure they are the most exciting.

4. Huw Merriman:

   It is imperative that the UK Government finds a way to get aviation back on its feet.

5. Joe Biden:

   It's imperative that we secure our borders, but 'build the wall' is a slogan divorced from reality.

Popularity rank by frequency of use