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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Without the imperative to invest in home furnishings, Holly Golightly can blow her powder-room money on Givenchy. Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025 But his desire to do so does coincide with the imperative of preventing Ukraine from losing and the autocratic axis from winning a war that is gradually, but unmistakably, going in the wrong direction. Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025 Increasingly, senior corporate leaders are challenged to balance the drive for material gain with the imperative to create positive impact—while diligently minimizing any negative fallout. Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025 At the start of the second Trump presidency, the imperative for action around state courts is clear. Peter Martin, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the imperative

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The imperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20imperative. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!