Word
imperative
Phoneticsim·per·a·tive, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪmˈpɛɹətɪv/
UK/ɪmpˈɛɹətˌɪv/
Definitions
01essential or urgent
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
adj. extremely important or urgent; something that must be done immediately.
adj. of vital importance; crucial or essential. Often used in formal contexts to describe an unavoidable requirement.
Español:imperativo
“It is imperative that you finish the report before the meeting starts.”
“In the face of rising sea levels, it is imperative that coastal cities invest in robust flood defences immediately.”
Antonyms
02giving a command
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. speaking in a way that sounds like you are giving a firm order.
adj. expressing a command or order; authoritative or peremptory in tone.
“The teacher used an imperative tone to stop the students from talking.”
“The captain issued his instructions in an imperative voice that left no room for hesitation or debate among the crew.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03an essential duty
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Academic · Formal
n. something that is very important and must be done for moral or practical reasons.
n. an essential or urgent thing; a duty or obligation that cannot be ignored.
“Improving the school system is a social imperative for the new government.”
“The company viewed environmental sustainability not just as a marketing tool, but as a strategic and moral imperative.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Therefore, it's imperative that we understand how lenses and other materials required for surgery behave when exposed to environments beyond the Earth's atmosphere.” “To improve their accuracy, it is imperative to take historical floods into account or estimate the worst-case flood scenario and display it on the maps.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin imperātīvus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Grammar
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/imperative
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0