the imperative
noun
grammar
: the form that a verb or sentence has when it is expressing a command
"Eat your spinach!" is in the imperative.
Examples of the imperative in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With thoughtful policy and community input, towns can balance the need for homes with the imperative to protect the natural spaces that define their landscape and legacy.
—
John Emmanuel, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
Another challenge to the adoption of SMRs is the imperative for regulatory bodies to harmonize regulations.
—Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Yet, not a word in your statement about the imperative for Hamas to leave Gaza.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2025
At an event that week, the First Lady, Janja Lula da Silva, spoke about the imperative of fighting misinformation.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the imperative
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John Emmanuel, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
Another challenge to the adoption of SMRs is the imperative for regulatory bodies to harmonize regulations.
—Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Yet, not a word in your statement about the imperative for Hamas to leave Gaza.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2025
At an event that week, the First Lady, Janja Lula da Silva, spoke about the imperative of fighting misinformation.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the imperative
Cite this Entry
“The imperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20imperative. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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