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

All of that has both NASA and Boeing’s space division working hard to keep the focus on the Starliner launch, especially on the imperative of bringing Wilmore and Williams home safely. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 5 June 2024

Some policymakers may resist the imperative to prioritize rural issues and tackle complex problems in the countryside. —Marie Hyland, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2024

As a former investment banker, Moore brings a keen understanding of budgetary intricacies and the imperative to align government spending with tangible outcomes. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2024

Xi only recently returned from a three-nation tour of Europe, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron lectured him on the imperative to halt support for Putin’s war machine. —Charlie Campbell, TIME, 17 May 2024

With health care costs rising and cultural influences promoting sedentary lifestyles, the imperative to act has never been more urgent. —Liz Clark, Fortune, 7 May 2024

Proponents lauded this as a monumental stride towards sustainable agriculture, citing the imperative to safeguard biodiversity, protect pollinators, and mitigate the health hazards posed by chemical residues in food. —Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

These insights underscore the imperative of adaptability and strategic confidence to set the future course of content production and distribution. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 31 Jan. 2024

From civil rights to economic justice, and global health to environmental stewardship, the interconnectedness of humanity underscores the imperative of working together for the betterment of all. —Journal Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024