imperative - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

When something absolutely has to be done and cannot be put off, use the adjective imperative.

Imperative is from Latin imperare "to command," and its original use was for a verb form expressing a command: "Do it!" is an imperative sentence. It's still used that way, but it's more commonly applied to something so pressing it cannot be put off: "Hiring new workers has become imperative." It has more immediate force than pressing but less than urgent.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: imperative

1	adj n	requiring attention or action some duty that is essential and urgent
2	adj n	relating to verbs in the imperative mood a mood that expresses an intention to influence the listener's behavior

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: imperative

1

adj requiring attention or action

“as nuclear weapons proliferate, preventing war becomes imperative”

“requests that grew more and more imperative”

Synonyms: assertive, self-asserting, self-assertive
aggressively self-assured; adjuratory
containing a solemn charge or command; clamant, crying, exigent, insistent, instant
demanding attention; peremptory
not allowing contradiction or refusal; desperate
showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire; pressing, urgent
compelling immediate action; shrill, strident
being sharply insistent on being heard

Antonyms:: beseeching, imploring, pleading
begging; adjuratory
earnestly or solemnly entreating; importunate
expressing earnest entreaty; mendicant
practicing beggary; petitionary
of the nature of or expressing a petition; precative, precatory
expressing entreaty or supplication; suppliant, supplicant, supplicatory
humbly entreating; show more antonyms...

n some duty that is essential and urgent

Type of:: duty, obligation, responsibility
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

2

adj relating to verbs in the imperative mood

n a mood that expresses an intention to influence the listener's behavior

Synonyms:: imperative form, imperative mood, jussive mood

Type of:: modality, mode, mood
verb inflections that express how the action or state is conceived by the speaker