imperative
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“It is imperative that you finish the report before the meeting starts.”
In context“In the face of rising sea levels, it is imperative that coastal cities invest in robust flood defences immediately.”
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The teacher used an imperative tone to stop the students from talking.”
In context“The captain issued his instructions in an imperative voice that left no room for hesitation or debate among the crew.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“Improving the school system is a social imperative for the new government.”
In context“The company viewed environmental sustainability not just as a marketing tool, but as a strategic and moral imperative.”
Synonyms
“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.”
Borrowed from Latin imperātīvus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.