import

American  

[im-pawrt, -pohrt, im-pawrt, -pohrt] / ɪmˈpɔrt, -ˈpoʊrt, ˈɪm pɔrt, -poʊrt /

verb (used with object)

• imports,
  present (3rd person singular)
• imported,
  past participle,  past
• importing
  present participle

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.

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verb (used without object)

• imports,
  present (3rd person singular)
• imported,
  past participle,  past
• importing
  present participle

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

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

noun

• imports
  plural

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 British  

verb

1. 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

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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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• importability
  noun
• importer
  noun
• nonimport
  noun
• preimport
  noun
• overimport
  verb (used with object)
• preimport
  verb (used with object)
• importable
  adjective
• unimported
  adjective
• unimporting
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• imports
  plural

Participles

• importing
  present
• imported
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• import
  simple
• imports
  simple
• have imported
  perfect
• has imported
  perfect
• am importing
  progressive
• are importing
  progressive
• is importing
  progressive
• have been importing
  perfect progressive
• has been importing
  perfect progressive

Past

• imported
  simple
• had imported
  perfect
• was importing
  progressive
• were importing
  progressive
• had been importing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will import
  simple
• will have imported
  perfect
• will be importing
  progressive
• will have been importing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of import

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

Explanation

Imports are the products shipped into our country from other places. We import Japanese autos and export our pop music to Tokyo. Import also means to signify something. Is it of import to our economic security to have so many Japanese imports on our roads? The origins of the word import are literally "to bring into port." The ratio of imports to exports is a big indicator of the health of a nation's economy. The word import can also refer to attitudes or behaviors that come as part of the culture of a place. "New York media is dominated by British journalists who have imported the snarky style of gossip reporting famous in London."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

import imports imported importing

That rule, which expired for China and Hong Kong last May, allowed retailers to pay no import taxes on packages sent to the U.S. valued at less than $800.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

His father, an artisanal miner, had proudly helped the 23-year-old prepare for the trip, believing he was going to work as a car import agent in Tanzania.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

The president announced on Monday he would delay the introduction of a raft of new import taxes on various Canadian goods for three days as negotiations over a trade deal continue.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

U.S. import prices decreased in July, driven by lower prices for fuel imports, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

This is the import of the history all around us, though very few people like to think about it.

From "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The tariffs cover a slice of imports from Canada that include plywood, liquor, and hockey gear.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

Consumer-price inflation primarily concerns services like rent and insurance, not imports.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026

Jumpei Sakai, who imports it, unintentionally spoke in haiku when asked about Wagyu: “It has a tender / texture, so you don’t really / need to chew the meat.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

"Canada fuels American growth, supplying 99 percent of their natural gas imports, 85 percent of their electricity imports, 60 percent of their crude oil imports," Carney said Saturday.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

Nearly half of the 180 or so major insect enemies of plants in the United States are accidental imports from abroad, and most of them have come as hitchhikers on plants.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

In 2025, the U.S. imported $383 billion of goods from Canada.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

Companies that make equipment to upgrade electricity grids are growing, too, because Europe needs to electrify its economy to reduce its reliance on imported energy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

It is thought imported eggs or dishes containing them are behind the outbreak.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

This comes as the U.S. home-improvement market has been hit with a number of challenges in recent years, including U.S. tariffs on imported goods, labor shortages and perisistent inflation.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

The doctors holding that the fever had been imported won out simply because there were more of them.

From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy

Work was continuing with other governments in Europe around the importing and exporting of zoo animals, the Defra spokesperson said.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

"We lack essential supplies because importing beekeeping equipment from the other side is not permitted," Al-Dabba told AFP, saying he had approached external organisations and ministries in Gaza and the occupied West Bank for help.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

He said supermarkets will "do everything" to keep prices where they are, but added: "eventually they will probably have to come to the party and increase the price, particularly if they start importing."

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

"Simply importing an AI model does not mean it will work well locally."

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

In any case, Euergetes acted decisively, defeating the dissidents and importing vast amounts of grain to feed the people.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

Related Words

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