import [verb im-pawrt , -pohrt ; noun im -pawrt, -pohrt]
Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for import on Thesaurus.com to bring in (merchandise, commodities, workers, etc.) from a foreign country for use, sale, processing, reexport, or services. to bring or introduce from one use, connection, or relation into another: foreign bodies imported into the blood; foodstuffs imported from the farm. to convey as meaning or implication; signify: Her words imported a change of attitude. to involve as a necessary circumstance; imply: Religion imports belief. Computers to bring (documents, data, etc.) into one software program from another. Archaic to be of consequence or importance to; concern. Show More
verb (used without object) to be of consequence or importance; to matter: We are friends, and it does not import that we have only just met. Show More
something that is imported from abroad; an imported commodity or article. the act of importing or bringing in; importation , as of goods from abroad: the import of foreign cars. consequence or importance: matters of great import. meaning; implication; purport: He felt the import of her words. Show More
Origin of import 1400–50; late Middle English importen <
Latin importāre. See
im-1 ,
port5 Related forms 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 Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for import construction ,
worth ,
value ,
point ,
heart ,
interpretation ,
gist ,
purport ,
bearing ,
significance ,
drift ,
understanding ,
thrust ,
stuff ,
sense ,
signification ,
score ,
implication ,
meat ,
acceptation Examples from the Web for import Contemporary Examples of import The import of those words resonated through my entire being.
CEO Mark Thompson, a solidly-built, 6-foot-2 import from the BBC.
Earlier this year, a Long Island man admitted to trying to import 40,000 piranhas from Hong Kong.
It also claimed that he had traveled to Turkey to buy communication equipment to import to Iran.
After all, the four-term Congresswoman is hardly dripping with historical, or even political, import .
Historical Examples of import She was so full of her own thoughts at that time, that she did not fairly take in the import of her words.
What mean these two days wasted at Axminster at a time when every hour is of import ?
And then there is not such mystery about these matters as we import into them.
She continued, therefore, without troubling herself as to their import .
It seemed to be a question directed to them, but the import of it was lost.
British Dictionary definitions for import to buy or bring in (goods or services) from a foreign country Compare export (tr) to bring in from an outside source to import foreign words into the language rare to signify or be significant; mean; convey to import doom Show More
(often plural) goods (visible imports ) or services (invisible imports ) that are bought from foreign countries (as modifier ) an import licence significance or importance a man of great import meaning or signification Canadian informal a sportsman or -woman who is not native to the country in which he or she plays Show More
Derived Forms importable , adjective importability , noun importer , noun Word Origin for import C15: from Latin importāre to carry in, from im- + portāre to carry
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for import v. early 15c., "convey information, express, make known, signify," from Latin importare "bring in, convey," from assimilated form of in- "into, in" (see in- (2)) + portare "to carry" (see port (n.1)). Sense of "bring in goods from abroad" first recorded c.1500. Related: Imported ; importing .
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n. "consequence, importance," 1580s; sense of "that which is imported" is from 1680s; both from import (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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