important

[ im-pawr-tnt ]

adjective

1. of much or great significance or consequence:

   an important event in world history.

2. mattering much (usually followed by to ):

   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. when postpositive,usually foll byto specially relevant or of great concern (to); valued highly (by)

   your wishes are important to me

4. an obsolete word for importunate

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 “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.

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

Derived Forms

• imˈportantly, adverb

Other Words From

• im·portant·ly adverb
• half-im·portant adjective
• half-im·portant·ly adverb
• preim·portant adjective
• preim·portant·ly adverb
• quasi-im·portant adjective
• quasi-im·portant·ly adverb
• super·im·portant adjective
• super·im·portant·ly adverb
• unim·portant adjective
• unim·portant·ly 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

To help him achieve his goals, Kennedy has invited the public to weigh in on people who could fill important roles within the federal government’s health agencies.

From Los Angeles Times

The discovery is important because it shows that wood vaulting can keep carbon out of the atmosphere for a long time.

From NewsForKids.net

Nima says he hopes his successes will make people more aware of how important Sherpas are to climbing.

From NewsForKids.net

Chuck Hoskin Jr., who leads the Cherokee Nation, called the apology an “important step”, but said that the US government now needed to take action to show that it was serious about making things better.

From NewsForKids.net

Mr. Rush, who’s 39, says he began working to set world records to show how important it is to keep trying, even when things are hard.

From NewsForKids.net

Related Words

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