Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [im-per-uh-tiv]
- /ɪmˈpɛr ə tɪv/
- /ɪmˈper.ə.tɪv/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [im-per-uh-tiv]
- /ɪmˈpɛr ə tɪv/
Definitions of imperative word
- abbreviation Technical meaning of IMPERATIVE imperative language 3
- adjective imperative absolutely necessary or required; unavoidable: It is imperative that we leave. 1
- adjective imperative of the nature of or expressing a command; commanding. 1
- adjective imperative Grammar. noting or pertaining to the mood of the verb used in commands, requests, etc., as in Listen! Go! Compare indicative (def 2), subjunctive (def 1). 1
- noun imperative a command. 1
- noun imperative something that demands attention or action; an unavoidable obligation or requirement; necessity: It is an imperative that we help defend friendly nations. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of imperative
First appearance:
before 1520 One of the 28% oldest English words
1520-30; < 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
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Imperative
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
imperative popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 77% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
imperative usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for imperative
adj imperative
- obligatory — required as a matter of obligation; mandatory: A reply is desirable but not obligatory.
- inescapable — incapable of being escaped, ignored, or avoided; ineluctable: inescapable responsibilities.
- indispensable — absolutely necessary, essential, or requisite: an indispensable member of the staff.
- crucial — If you describe something as crucial, you mean it is extremely important.
- immediate — occurring or accomplished without delay; instant: an immediate reply.
adjective imperative
- essential — Absolutely necessary; extremely important.
- of the essence — the basic, real, and invariable nature of a thing or its significant individual feature or features: Freedom is the very essence of our democracy.
- exigent — Pressing ; demanding.
- authoritative — Someone or something that is authoritative gives an impression of power and importance and is likely to be obeyed.
noun imperative
- necessity — something necessary or indispensable: food, shelter, and other necessities of life.
- priority — the state or quality of being earlier in time, occurrence, etc.
- requirement — that which is required; a thing demanded or obligatory: One of the requirements of the job is accuracy.
- rule — a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement, etc.: the rules of chess.
- constraint — A constraint is something that limits or controls what you can do.
Antonyms for imperative
adj imperative
- nonessential — not essential; not necessary: Nonessential use of gasoline was forbidden during the war.
- optional — left to one's choice; not required or mandatory: Formal dress is optional.
- voluntary — done, made, brought about, undertaken, etc., of one's own accord or by free choice: a voluntary contribution.
- unnecessary — not necessary or essential; needless; unessential.
- inessential — not essential; not necessary; nonessential.
adjective imperative
- subservient — serving or acting in a subordinate capacity; subordinate.
noun imperative
- option — command line option
Top questions with imperative
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See also
Matching words
- Words starting with i
- Words starting with im
- Words starting with imp
- Words starting with impe
- Words starting with imper
- Words starting with impera
- Words starting with imperat
- Words starting with imperati
- Words starting with imperativ
- Words starting with imperative