imperative

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With people you know, the imperative is the present tense tu form without the word tu. - er verbs drop the - s at the end of the verb.

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Definitions (22)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (9)

  1. adjective Expressing a command or plea; peremptory: requests that grew more and more imperative.
  2. adjective Having the power or authority to command or control.
  3. adjective Grammar Of, relating to, or constituting the mood that expresses a command or request.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (7)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (4)

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Examples (50)

  • A change of diet was imperative, and, in seeking for this, he came into collision with the water-spider Illustration: HE BRISTLED DEFIANCE FROM A SAFE DISTANCE Now, the water-spider lived by himself in a bubble of his own making. —  "Wee Tim'rous Beasties" Studies of Animal life and Character
  • No, because better pavement was imperative--and it came. —  On the Firing Line in Education
  • What would have been our situation if it had not pleased Heaven to refresh us The consequence of their thirst being appeased made the demand for food imperative, and a raw potato was given to each man. —  Percival Keene
  • These accommodations proved ample for many years; but the recent growth of the student body finally made an increase in space imperative, and in 1916 an extension of 48 feet was added at each end, making the main floor 248 feet long with a ten-lap running track Illustration: WATERMAN GYMNASIUM FOR MEN The interest in all forms of outdoor athletics, which was developing rapidly by 1890, made an athletic field no less necessary than a gymnasium. —  The University of Michigan
  • I replied that General Sherman's order was imperative, and I could not relieve him (General Stanley) from the responsibility of executing it. —  Forty-Six Years in the Army
 

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

urgent ·  peremptory ·  imperious ·  authoritative ·  irresistible ·  decisive ·  immediate ·  compel ·  frantic ·  explicit ·  harsh

Used in the same contextWord Family

imperative:   imperatives
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English imperatif, relating to the imperative mood, from Old French, from Late Latin imperātīvus, from Latin imperātus, past participle of imperāre, to command; see emperor.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. = Dutch imperatief = G. Danish Swedish imperativ, the imperative mode, = French impératif = Spanish Portuguese Italian imperativo, from Latin imperativus, inperativus, of a command, imperative (as a noun, sc. modus, the imperative mode), from imperare, inperare, command, order: see imperate.
 

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/ɪmˈpɛrətɪv/
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