View synonyms for

important

[ im-pawr-tnt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

of much or great significance or consequence:
an important event in world history.
mattering much (usually followed by to ):
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.

important

/ ɪ��ˈ��ɔː��ə�Գ� /

adjective

of great significance or value; outstanding
Voltaire is an important writer
of social significance; notable; eminent; esteemed
an important man in the town
when postpositive,usually foll byto specially relevant or of great concern (to); valued highly (by)
your wishes are important to me
an obsolete word for importunate

Discover More

Usage Note

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 “�� 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.

Discover More

Usage

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

Discover More

Derived Forms

��ˈ��ǰ��ٲ��Գٱ��, adverb

Discover More

Other Word Forms

��·��ǰ�t��Գ�·�� adverb
�󲹱��-��·��ǰ�t��Գ� adjective
half-��·��ǰ�t��Գ�·�� adverb
��i��·��ǰ�t��Գ� adjective
pre��·��ǰ�t��Գ�·�� adverb
��ܲ��ȴ��-��·��ǰ�t��Գ� adjective
quasi-��·��ǰ�t��Գ�·�� adverb
��p��·��·��ǰ�t��Գ� adjective
super·��·��ǰ�t��Գ�·�� adverb
�ܲ�i��·��ǰ�t��Գ� adjective
un��·��ǰ�t��Գ�·�� adverb

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of important¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin important-, stem of ��ǰ��Բ�, present participle of ��ǰ�� “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 )

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of important¹

C16: from Old Italian importante, from Medieval Latin ��ǰ�� to signify, be of consequence, from Latin: to carry in; see import

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"It's most important that discussions about autism are grounded in science, compassion and most importantly the living experiences of people with autism themselves," he said.

From

Responding for the Labour government, Small Business Minister Gareth Thomas defended the chancellor's decisions in her October Budget as "important for long term stability".

From

Surveys of butterflies are important for conservation because they are known as indicator species, meaning rises and falls in their populations can predict the health of the wider ecosystem.

From

“People don’t think of little hills as a conservation area, that they might not be important,” Delaney said.

From

Ms Meaker told the BBC: "I cannot believe they would even think about closing a small school which is such an important part of our community."

From

Related Words

importance importation

Browse