important

[im-pawr-tnt]

adjective

1. of much or great significance or consequence.

   an important event in world history.

2. mattering much (usually followed byto ).

   details important to a fair decision.

3. entitled to more than ordinary consideration or notice.

   an important exception.

4. prominent or large.

   He played an important part in national politics.

5. of considerable influence or authority, as a person or position.

   an important scientist.

6. having social position or distinction, as a person or family.

   important guests.

7. pompous; pretentious.

   When speaking, he assumes an important attitude that offends his audience.

8. Obsolete.,  importunate.

important

/ ɪmˈpɔːtənt /

adjective

1. of great significance or value; outstanding

   Voltaire is an important writer

2. of social significance; notable; eminent; esteemed

   an important man in the town

3. specially relevant or of great concern (to); valued highly (by)

   your wishes are important to me

4. an obsolete word for importunate

Usage

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.

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

Other Word Forms

• importantly adverb
• half-important adjective
• half-importantly adverb
• preimportant adjective
• preimportantly adverb
• quasi-important adjective
• quasi-importantly adverb
• superimportant adjective
• superimportantly adverb
• unimportant adjective
• unimportantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of important¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin important-, stem of importāns, present participle of importāre “to be of consequence, weigh,” from Latin: “to carry in, import,” equivalent to im- im- ¹ ( def. ) + port- port ⁵ ( def. ) + -ans -ant ( def. ); import ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of important¹

C16: from Old Italian importante, from Medieval Latin importāre to signify, be of consequence, from Latin: to carry in; see _import

Example Sentences

“The flyover states are sort of dictating the future right now. At what point do you not acknowledge that they’re important?”

From Salon

"Adopting Swahili is important for our integration into the region," he said.

From BBC

The Kobe University finding not only closes a gap in our understanding of wild orchid ecology but also uncovers an important carbon flux in the ecosystem.

From Science Daily

Blake Stephenson says that during the 2024 election campaign he had experienced a lot of anger from voters and that "humility is important".

From BBC

“You talk about a kid that did a 360. He’s representing what I believe is important to being a captain — dedication, holding people accountable. He’s doing everything right.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• eminent 
• esteemed 
• great 
• influential 
• of note 
• outstanding 
• powerful 
• prominent