important

[im-pawr-tnt]

adjective

1. of much or great significance or consequence.

   an important event in world history.

2. mattering much (usually followed byto ).

   details important to a fair decision.

3. entitled to more than ordinary consideration or notice.

   an important exception.

4. prominent or large.

   He played an important part in national politics.

5. of considerable influence or authority, as a person or position.

   an important scientist.

6. having social position or distinction, as a person or family.

   important guests.

7. pompous; pretentious.

   When speaking, he assumes an important attitude that offends his audience.

8. Obsolete.,  importunate.

important

/ ɪmˈpɔːtənt /

adjective

1. of great significance or value; outstanding

   Voltaire is an important writer

2. of social significance; notable; eminent; esteemed

   an important man in the town

3. specially relevant or of great concern (to); valued highly (by)

   your wishes are important to me

4. an obsolete word for importunate

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

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.

Other Word Forms

• importantly adverb
• half-important adjective
• half-importantly adverb
• preimportant adjective
• preimportantly adverb
• quasi-important adjective
• quasi-importantly adverb
• superimportant adjective
• superimportantly adverb
• unimportant adjective
• unimportantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of important¹

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. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of important¹

C16: from Old Italian importante, from Medieval Latin importāre to signify, be of consequence, from Latin: to carry in; see _import

Example Sentences

"What is an important thing for me in my way of looking at football is that we need to be dynamic," said Jeglertz.

From BBC

The most important thing you can do when choosing a sunscreen, she says, is actually wear enough of it – a full teaspoon at least for each part of your body, face included.

From BBC

But Hey had training in search and rescue, so he struck up a conversation with Montgomery and asked a few important questions.

From Los Angeles Times

It's also important to bear in mind that the OBR stresses the economic and fiscal costs to the UK from the UK and the world not reaching net zero.

From BBC

For Oliphant, every part of the cartoon — subject, style and structure — is important, and it’s that reverence for attentive construction that’s been so rapidly phased out.

From Salon

Related Words

• eminent 
• esteemed 
• great 
• influential 
• of note 
• outstanding 
• powerful 
• prominent