imperative

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   requiring attention or action

   as nuclear weapons proliferate, preventing war becomes imperative

2. 2
   adj

   Essential; crucial; extremely important.

   That you come here right now is imperative.

3. 3
   adj

   Expressing a command; authoritatively or absolutely directive.

   imperative orders

4. 4
   noun

   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.

5. 5
   noun

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

   Visiting Berlin is an imperative.

6. 6
   adj

   relating to verbs in the imperative mood

7. 7
   noun

   some duty that is essential and urgent

8. 8
   noun

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

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin imperātīvus.