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WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023
im•por•tant /ɪmˈpɔrtnt/USA pronunciation
adj.
- of much or great effect, significance, or consequence:an important event in history.[It + be + ~ + that clause]It’s important that you understand our position.
- of great distinction, rank, or power:an important scientist.
im•por•tant•ly, adv. : She works well with others, but more importantly, her record is the best in the company.See -port-.
- important is an adjective, importance is a noun:You missed a very important meeting. Was anything of importance discussed there?
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023
im•por•tant
(im pôr′tnt),USA pronunciation adj.
- of much or great significance or consequence:an important event in world history.
- mattering much (usually fol. by to):details important to a fair decision.
- entitled to more than ordinary consideration or notice:an important exception.
- prominent or large:He played an important part in national politics.
- of considerable influence or authority, as a person or position:an important scientist.
- having social position or distinction, as a person or family:important guests.
- pompous;
pretentious:When speaking, he assumes an important attitude that offends his audience. - [Obs.]importunate.
- Medieval Latin important- (stem of importāns present participle of importāre to be of consequence, weigh, Latin: to carry in, import), equivalent. to im- im—1 + port- port5 + -ant- —ant; see import
- 1580–90
im•por′tant•ly, adv.
- Both more important and more importantly occur at the beginning of a sentence in all varieties of standard English:More important (or More importantly), her record as an administrator is unmatched. Today, more importantly is the more common, even though some object to its use on the grounds that more important is an elliptical form of «What is more important» and that the adverb importantly could not occur in such a construction. More importantly probably developed by analogy with other sentence-modifying adverbs, as curiously, fortunately, and regrettably.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
important /ɪmˈpɔːtənt/ adj
- of great significance or value; outstanding
- of social significance; notable; eminent; esteemed: an important man in the town
- (when postpositive,) usually followed by to: specially relevant or of great concern (to); valued highly (by): your wishes are important to me
Etymology: 16th Century: from Old Italian importante, from Medieval Latin importāre to signify, be of consequence, from Latin: to carry in; see import
imˈportantly adv USAGE
The use of more importantly as in more importantly, the local council is opposed to this proposal has become very common, but many people still prefer to use more important
‘important‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
1
: marked by or indicative of significant worth or consequence : valuable in content or relationship
2
: giving evidence of a feeling of self-importance
Importantly vs. Important: Usage Guide
A number of commentators have objected to importantly as a sentence modifier (the use defined above at sense 1) and have recommended important instead. Actually, both the adverb and the adjective are in reputable standard use in this function. Important is always used with more or most.
had bronze weapons and composite bows; more important, they utilized the horse and war chariot
—
Harry A. Gailey, Jr.
second and most important, the book contains no important woman character
—F. Scott Fitzgerald
Importantly is commonly used in similar contexts, but it is somewhat more flexible in not requiring more or most.
sticks and, just as importantly, unsticks easily
—Phoebe Hawkins
importantly, the leaven in the mixture is quality
—George O’Brien
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Diet and exercise are important for health.
In his editorial, he made several important points.
Scientists have made an important discovery.
Doing her job well is important to her.
He’s one of the most important scholars in his field.
Recent Examples on the Web
Wen: First, awareness is important.
—Katia Hetter, CNN, 4 Apr. 2023
Design focused on the driver is important in this scoring category.
—Brett Berk, Good Housekeeping, 4 Apr. 2023
Differentiation is important, and those who want to express themselves through fashion, want to do so in a distinct way that is their own.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Harper’s BAZAAR, 4 Apr. 2023
Practice Good Skincare Caring for your skin is important to prevent flares.
—Jessie Van Amburg, Health, 4 Apr. 2023
American political candidates routinely drum up support by warning voters that this election, really, is the most important of their lifetimes.
—Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2023
But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it.
—Melody Chiu, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2023
Physical factors are the most important at first—especially water temperature and channel stability.
—Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2023
For millions living in the nation’s hurricane prone regions, the lives lost as a result of Ian’s massive storm surge and extreme rainfall are the most important lesson, said Daniel Noah, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Tampa Bay.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘important.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English importante, from Medieval Latin important-, importans, present participle of importare to signify — more at import entry 1
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of important was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near important
Cite this Entry
“Important.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/important. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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Last Updated:
6 Apr 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
important — important, ante [ ɛ̃pɔrtɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1476; it. importante → importance I ♦ (Choses) 1 ♦ Qui importe; qui a beaucoup d intérêt, de grandes conséquences. ⇒ considérable, grand. Question importante. ⇒ majeur. Rôle important. Extrêmement… … Encyclopédie Universelle
important — important, ante (in por tan, tan t ) adj. 1° Qui importe, qui est de conséquence, qui est considérable. Il est important de se hâter. • Une perte si importante, VAUGEL. Q. C. p. 180. • Un mot important pour ton bien, Et qui peut établir ton … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d’Émile Littré
important — IMPORTÁNT, Ă, importanţi, te, adj. Care are însemnătate, valoare; însemnat. ♦ (Despre persoane) De vază; remarcabil, ilustru. ♦ (ir.) Care se crede om de seamă; plin de aroganţă, îngâmfat. – Din fr. important. Trimis de gall, 13.09.2007. Sursa:… … Dicționar Român
important — Important, [import]ante. adj. Qui importe, qui est de consequence, qui est considerable. Discours important, mot important, parole importante. cette affaire est fort importante. la faute que vous avez faite est plus importante que vous ne pensez … Dictionnaire de l’Académie française
important — important, importantly Both words have a special elliptical use dating from the 1930s, in which one or other stands by itself (or qualified by more, most, etc.) as a kind of sentence adverb: • Perhaps more importantly, income not applied to… … Modern English usage
Important — Im*por tant, a. [F. important. See {Import}, v. t.] 1. Full of, or burdened by, import; charged with great interests; restless; anxious. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Thou hast strength as much As serves to execute a mind very important. Chapman. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
important — (adj.) mid 15c., from M.Fr. important and directly from M.L. importantem (nom. importans), prp. of importare be significant in, from L. importare bring in (see IMPORT (Cf. import)). Related: Importantly … Etymology dictionary
important — [adj1] valuable, substantial big, big league*, chief, considerable, conspicuous, critical, crucial, decisive, determining, earnest, essential, esteemed, exceptional, exigent, extensive, far reaching, foremost, front page*, grave, great, heavy,… … New thesaurus
important — I (urgent) adjective acute, called for, clamant, clamorous, cogent, compelling, critical, crucial, crying, demanding attention, driving, essential, exigent, high priority, impelling, imperative, importunate, in demand, indispensable, inescapable … Law dictionary
important — ► ADJECTIVE 1) of great significance or value. 2) having high rank or social status. DERIVATIVES importance noun importantly adverb … English terms dictionary
important — [im pôrt′ nt] adj. [Fr < OIt importante < ML importans, prp. of importare: see IMPORT] 1. meaning a great deal; having much significance, consequence, or value 2. having, or acting as if having, power, authority, influence, high position,… … English World dictionary
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- Important
Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [im-pawr-tnt]
- /ɪmˈpɔr tnt/
- /ɪmˈpɔːtnt/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [im-pawr-tnt]
- /ɪmˈpɔr tnt/
Definitions of important word
- adjective important of much or great significance or consequence: an important event in world history. 1
- adjective important mattering much (usually followed by to): details important to a fair decision. 1
- adjective important entitled to more than ordinary consideration or notice: an important exception. 1
- adjective important prominent or large: He played an important part in national politics. 1
- adjective important of considerable influence or authority, as a person or position: an important scientist. 1
- adjective important having social position or distinction, as a person or family: important guests. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of important
First appearance:
before 1580
One of the 35% oldest English words
1580-90; < Medieval Latin important- (stem of importāns present participle of importāre to be of consequence, weigh, Latin: to carry in, import), equivalent to im- im-1 + port- port5 + -ant- -ant; see import
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Important
important popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 95% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between «mom» and «screwdriver».
Synonyms for important
adj important
- great — unusually or comparatively large in size or dimensions: A great fire destroyed nearly half the city.
- relevant — bearing upon or connected with the matter in hand; pertinent: a relevant remark.
- necessary — being essential, indispensable, or requisite: a necessary part of the motor.
- influential — having or exerting influence, especially great influence: three influential educators.
- big — A big person or thing is large in physical size.
adjective important
- central — Something that is central is in the middle of a place or area.
- key — a small metal instrument specially cut to fit into a lock and move its bolt.
- main — chief in size, extent, or importance; principal; leading: the company’s main office; the main features of a plan.
- essential — Absolutely necessary; extremely important.
- substantial — of ample or considerable amount, quantity, size, etc.: a substantial sum of money.
noun important
- superstar — a person, as a performer or athlete, who enjoys wide recognition, is esteemed for exceptional talent, and is eagerly sought after for his or her services.
- pooh-bah — a person who holds several positions, especially ones that give him or her bureaucratic importance.
- hotdog — to perform unusual or very intricate maneuvers in a sport, especially surfing or skiing.
Antonyms for important
adj important
- miniature — a representation or image of something on a small or reduced scale.
- insignificant — unimportant, trifling, or petty: Omit the insignificant details.
- unimportant — of much or great significance or consequence: an important event in world history.
- inessential — not essential; not necessary; nonessential.
- unnecessary — not necessary or essential; needless; unessential.
Top questions with important
- what is the most important meal of the day?
- why are carbohydrates important?
- what is super tuesday and why is it important?
- what is the most important?
- why is biodiversity important?
- why is education important?
- why is iowa important in elections?
- why is breakfast the most important meal of the day?
- why is carbon important?
- why is the iowa caucus so important?
- why is history important?
- why is photosynthesis important?
- why is water important?
- what is the important meal of the day?
- why is sleep important?
See also
- All definitions of important
- Synonyms for important
- Antonyms for important
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- Words that rhyme with important
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