import

American  

[im-pawrt, -pohrt, im-pawrt, -pohrt] / ɪmˈpɔrt, -ˈpoʊrt, ˈɪm pɔrt, -poʊrt /

verb (used with object)

1. to bring in (merchandise, commodities, workers, etc.) from a foreign country for use, sale, processing, reexport, or services.

2. to bring or introduce from one use, connection, or relation into another.

   foreign bodies imported into the blood; foodstuffs imported from the farm.

3. to convey as meaning or implication; signify.

   Her words imported a change of attitude.

4. to involve as a necessary circumstance; imply.

   Religion imports belief.

5. Computers. to bring (documents, data, etc.) into one software program from another.

6. Archaic. to be of consequence or importance to; concern.

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verb (used without object)

1. to be of consequence or importance; to matter.

   We are friends, and it does not import that we have only just met.

noun

1. something that is imported from abroad; an imported commodity or article.

2. the act of importing or bringing in; importation, as of goods from abroad.

   the import of foreign cars.

3. consequence or importance.

   matters of great import.

   Synonyms:

   sense, significance

4. meaning; implication; purport.

   He felt the import of her words.

import British  

verb

1. to buy or bring in (goods or services) from a foreign country Compare export

2. (tr) to bring in from an outside source

   to import foreign words into the language

3. rare to signify or be significant; mean; convey

   to import doom

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noun

1. (often plural)

   1. goods ( visible imports ) or services ( invisible imports ) that are bought from foreign countries

   2. ( as modifier )

      an import licence

2. significance or importance

   a man of great import

3. meaning or signification

4. informal a sportsman or -woman who is not native to the country in which he or she plays

Other Word Forms

• importability noun
• importable adjective
• importer noun
• nonimport noun
• overimport verb (used with object)
• preimport verb (used with object)
• unimported adjective
• unimporting adjective

Etymology

Origin of import

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English importen, from Latin importāre; equivalent to im- ¹ + port ⁵

Example Sentences

Shares of all South Korean companies will continue to struggle against a falling won as the fuel import bill rises, Lui predicts.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

“We don’t import a lot of crude,” Beaulieu said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

And he sought to import this limitation into the 14th Amendment.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

They, along with traders who join the Basij, get access to foreign exchange at preferential rates to import goods and get priority for state contracts, says Mustapha Pakzad, a former financial consultant in Tehran.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Encouraged by the increasing number of discoveries, Figgins’s estimation of their import was growing almost daily.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• value
• worth