imperative

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪmˈpɛɹ.ə.tɪv/ UK /ɪmˈpɛɹ.ə.tɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #12754

Meanings

1

adj
Extremely important and necessary; something that must be done.

It is imperative that you arrive on time for the exam.
2

noun
Something that is absolutely necessary or urgent.

Protecting the environment is a moral imperative for us all.
3

noun
In grammar, the form of a verb used to give an order or command.

In the sentence "Close the door!", the verb is in the imperative.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · extremely important and... essential crucial

3 noun · in grammar, the form of a... imperative mood

More required

Word family

Forms imperativelyimperatives

Derived forms imperativalimperativenessimperativistnonimperativepostimperativeunimperativewhimperative

Related forms jussivevolitive

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

hypothetical imperative
a principle specifying what action is necessary to achieve a chosen goal

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Imperative, recorded in late Middle English, ultimately derives from Latin imperare, “to command.” It belongs to the same historical word family as emperor, empire, imperial, and imperious.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin imperātīvus.

*per- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Language & Linguistics

External links

# imperative

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪmˈpɛɹ.ə.tɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪmˈpɛɹ.ə.tɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 12754

## Meanings
1. Extremely important and necessary; something that must be done.
2. Something that is absolutely necessary or urgent.
3. In grammar, the form of a verb used to give an order or command.

## Examples
- It is imperative that you arrive on time for the exam.
- Protecting the environment is a moral imperative for us all.
- In the sentence "Close the door!", the verb is in the imperative.

## Synonyms
- required

## Derived Forms
- imperatival
- imperativeness
- imperativist
- nonimperative
- postimperative
- unimperative
- whimperative

## Related Forms
- jussive
- volitive

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *per-

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin imperātīvus.

## AI Etymology
Imperative is borrowed from Latin imperātīvus. The historical line also includes *per- (Proto-Indo-European). In current use, the main senses are “Extremely important and necessary; something that must be done” and “Something that is absolutely necessary or urgent”.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Language & Linguistics

markdown