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

Marvel Unlimited members who sign up for Marvel Comics will be able to import their current library and reading history into the new app once it’s launched.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

Beijing has said it firmly opposes import quotas.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

Dangote Industries says it will import most of the crude oil it plans to refine from Nigeria, the U.S.,

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

That prevents the import or sale of humanoids that are made up of less than 65% of domestic content for sale, although companies can apply for an exemption.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

“Maybe we should import a new group of scientists,” Cara says, sighing.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

Sefcovic has identified three priorities: addressing surging imports in strategically important sectors, increasing European exports to China, and improving access to critical raw materials.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

The U.S. has for decades taken a much firmer line on forced labor than its peer countries, first banning imports tied to the practice in 1930.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

According to the Dallas Federal Reserve, it didn’t derail imports; it just changed where imports were coming from.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

The country imports around 90% of its crude oil and 50% of its gas needs.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

“All those midsized European nations and their capital cities, imports and exports and what have you! I could hardly keep them straight.”

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

If the decorated Tampa Bay vessels had been imported or produced by potters trained in Mississippian methods, the fragments should preserve evidence of these techniques.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

It hit around 360 billion euros in 2025, meaning the EU imported far more from the Asian nation than it exported there.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

Over half of the UK's diesel is imported, with 31% of the imports coming from the US.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

The Dodgers imported him for five or six starts in October, the first of them this weekend.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

To put New England on a vegan diet would mean most of its food would have to be imported from elsewhere.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

The team looked at importing game trays from Asia, but was committed to making the game in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

For JBS, importing more of its Brazilian product into the U.S. would give the meatpacker a bigger share of the American market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Marra said the issue was "finely balanced" but he believed oil and gas could be produced in a cleaner way in the UK rather than by importing from abroad.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

US importing businesses, particularly those close to the Canadian border, will likely feel the pinch from higher costs, Knightley of ING said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

Examples of successful biological control of serious pests by importing their natural enemies are to be found in some 40 countries distributed over much of the world.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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