import

[ verb im-pawrt, -pohrt; noun im-pawrt, -pohrt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to bring in (merchandise, commodities, workers, etc.) from a foreign country for use, sale, processing, reexport, or services.
2. to bring or introduce from one use, connection, or relation into another:

   foreign bodies imported into the blood; foodstuffs imported from the farm.

3. to convey as meaning or implication; signify:

   Her words imported a change of attitude.

4. to involve as a necessary circumstance; imply:

   Religion imports belief.

5. Computers. to bring (documents, data, etc.) into one software program from another.
6. Archaic. to be of consequence or importance to; concern.

verb (used without object)

1. to be of consequence or importance; to matter:

   We are friends, and it does not import that we have only just met.

noun

1. something that is imported from abroad; an imported commodity or article.
2. the act of importing or bringing in; importation, as of goods from abroad:

   the import of foreign cars.

3. consequence or importance:

   matters of great import.

   Synonyms: sense, significance

4. meaning; implication; purport:

   He felt the import of her words.

import

verb

1. See export
   to buy or bring in (goods or services) from a foreign country Compare export
2. tr to bring in from an outside source

   to import foreign words into the language

3. rare.
   to signify or be significant; mean; convey

   to import doom

noun

1. often plural
   1. goods ( visible imports ) or services ( invisible imports ) that are bought from foreign countries
   2. ( as modifier )

      an import licence

2. significance or importance

   a man of great import

3. meaning or signification
4. informal.
   a sportsman or -woman who is not native to the country in which he or she plays

Derived Forms

• imˈportable, adjective
• imˌportaˈbility, noun
• imˈporter, noun

Other Words From

• im·porta·ble adjective
• im·porta·bili·ty noun
• im·porter noun
• non·import noun
• over·im·port verb (used with object)
• preim·port verb (used with object)
• pre·import noun
• unim·ported adjective
• unim·porting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of import¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English importen, from Latin importāre; equivalent to im- ¹ + port ⁵

Word History and Origins

Origin of import¹

C15: from Latin importāre to carry in, from im- + portāre to carry

Example Sentences

China has fallen behind in its purchases of American agricultural products and energy imports.

From Fortune

The resulting production slowdown caused bottlenecks for all of sorts of imports.

From Quartz

The import reduction is due to three main factors, according to spirits industry veteran Adam Levy.

From Quartz

India’s smart move to tackle this dual problem was to launch a policy which could reduce the crude oil import along with handling the environmental crisis.

From Quartz

The company also announced new initiatives to automate data imports into Google Ads.

From Search Engine Land

The import of those words resonated through my entire being.

From The Daily Beast

CEO Mark Thompson, a solidly-built, 6-foot-2 import from the BBC.

From The Daily Beast

Is it possible that Zima might even make a comeback in the U.S.A, perhaps as some sort of exotic import?

From The Daily Beast

How the Export-Import Bank” became a target “for Tea Party wrath is a little strange to me.

From The Daily Beast

Earlier this year, a Long Island man admitted to trying to import 40,000 piranhas from Hong Kong.

From The Daily Beast

When you next hear of, or see Philip Wharton, you will understand the import of your own words.

From Project Gutenberg

I add nothing to the “Extremes,” import nothing from abroad in regard to them, invent nothing.

From Project Gutenberg

Porson smoked many bundles of cheroots, which nabobs began to import.

From Project Gutenberg

The verb (—) in the Hebrew, when connected with the name of God in different other passages, has the same import.

From Project Gutenberg

If performed to God, it is, according to the import of the expression confessing to him, to Covenant.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• value
• worth