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importune

[ im-pawr-toon, -tyoon, im-pawr-chuhn ]
/ ˌɪm pɔrˈtun, -ˈtyun, ɪmˈpɔr tʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR importune ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), im·por·tuned, im·por·tun·ing.

verb (used without object), im·por·tuned, im·por·tun·ing.

to make urgent or persistent solicitations.
to make improper advances toward another person.

adjective

importunate.

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!
Question 1 of 10
Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.
Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.
It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of importune

1350–1400; Middle English (adj.) < Latin importūnus unsuitable, troublesome, relentless; see im-2, opportune

OTHER WORDS FROM importune

im·por·tune·ly, adverbim·por·tun·er, nounun·im·por·tuned, adjective

Words nearby importune

importation, imported currantworm, importee, importunacy, importunate, importune, importunity, impose, impose on, imposing, imposing stone
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to importune

beset, press, crave, persuade, plead, hound, badger, sell, nag, pray, pester, implore, solicit, appeal, urge, invoke, besiege, plague, ask, beseech

Example sentences from the Web for importune

British Dictionary definitions for importune

importune
/ (ɪmˈpɔːtjuːn) /

verb (tr)

to harass with persistent requests; demand of (someone) insistently
to beg for persistently; request with insistence
obsolete
  1. to anger or annoy
  2. to force; impel

Derived forms of importune

importuner, nounimportunity or importunacy, noun

Word Origin for importune

C16: from Latin importūnus tiresome, from im- in- 1 + -portūnus as in opportūnus opportune
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012