Hey Dictionary

What does “imperative” mean?

imperative

Oh, this is a good one —

"Imperative" means something is really necessary, like you absolutely must do it. It's stronger than just "important."

So imagine your friend is sick and you say, "It's imperative that you see a doctor today." That means — no joke, you have to go. No skipping it.

Or at work: "It's imperative that we finish this project before Friday." Everyone understands — this is not optional, this is serious.

You'll also see it in formal writing a lot, like: "It is imperative that all passengers wear a seatbelt."

It can also be a noun — in grammar, the "imperative" is the form you use to give commands, like "Sit down!" or "Open the door!" — but the most common use just means something urgent and non-negotiable.

Basically: if it's imperative, you cannot ignore it.

Related words

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