English Meaning & Definitions
Of vital importance; crucial; having the power or tone of authority.
- “It is imperative that we finish the project before the deadline.”
- “The government viewed economic reform as an imperative necessity.”
An essential or urgent thing; a command or authoritative instruction.
- “Survival was the absolute imperative for the refugees.”
- “The moral imperative to help those in need guides our charity work.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “imperative”.
Late Middle English: from Late Latin imperativus, from Latin imperat- 'commanded', from the verb imperare (from in- 'towards, upon' + parare 'prepare, order').
Think of 'im-PER-ative' as something that requires a 'PERson' to act 'IMmediately' because it is vital.
Frequently Asked Questions About “imperative”
1. What is the meaning of “imperative” in English?
In English, imperative (adjective) is defined as: “Of vital importance; crucial; having the power or tone of authority.”.
2. How do you use “imperative” in a sentence?
“It is imperative that we finish the project before the deadline.”
3. What are English synonyms of “imperative”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “imperative”?
Late Middle English: from Late Latin imperativus, from Latin imperat- 'commanded', from the verb imperare (from in- 'towards, upon' + parare 'prepare, order').
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.