important
Americanadjective
-
of much or great significance or consequence.
an important event in world history.
-
mattering much (usually followed byto ).
details important to a fair decision.
-
entitled to more than ordinary consideration or notice.
an important exception.
-
prominent or large.
He played an important part in national politics.
-
of considerable influence or authority, as a person or position.
an important scientist.
-
having social position or distinction, as a person or family.
important guests.
-
pompous; pretentious.
When speaking, he assumes an important attitude that offends his audience.
-
Obsolete. importunate.
adjective
-
of great significance or value; outstanding
Voltaire is an important writer
-
of social significance; notable; eminent; esteemed
an important man in the town
-
specially relevant or of great concern (to); valued highly (by)
your wishes are important to me
-
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
- half-important adjective
- half-importantly adverb
- importantly adverb
- preimportant adjective
- preimportantly adverb
- quasi-important adjective
- quasi-importantly adverb
- superimportant adjective
- superimportantly adverb
- unimportant adjective
- unimportantly adverb
Etymology
Origin of important
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. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bessent didn’t mention the most important reason why American consumers are unlikely to see anything resembling a tariff refund.
From Los Angeles Times
Until they disagreed on one important thing: the definition of mushroom.
From Los Angeles Times
“But equally as important is taking advantage of this moment to help child cares go forward in a more productive and more strengthened way together as a team.”
From Los Angeles Times
Colby said it is important for people to understand that fentanyl cannot be absorbed through contact, so that they are not fearful to intervene when witnessing an overdose.
From Los Angeles Times
“There was a perception that a criminal prosecution is more important from a public safety perspective than a deportation,” Sandweg said.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
