imperfect tense

noun

A tense used to describe a past action that is ongoing, incomplete or continuous, or coincident with another action.

Similar
progressiveprogressive tenseimperfectcontinuous tense
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounimperfect tense (plural imperfect tenses)

plural imperfect tenses

  1. grammarA tense used to describe a past action that is ongoing, incomplete or continuous, or coincident with another action.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna tense of verbs used in describing action that is on-going

Similar
progressiveprogressive tenseimperfectcontinuous tense
Broader
tense
Also see
continuous tenseimperfectprogressiveprogressive tense

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Polish czas niedokonany
  • czas niedokonanyTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

imperfect tense. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/imperfect%20tense

MLA

“imperfect tense.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/imperfect%20tense. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “imperfect tense,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/imperfect%20tense.

Source: imperfect tense on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.