important

[im-pawr-tnt] /ɪmˈpɔr 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.
Origin
1580-90; < Medieval Latin important- (stem of importāns present participle of importāre to be of consequence, weigh, Latin: to carry in, import), equivalent to im- im-1 + port- port5 + -ant- -ant; see import
Related 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
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.
Examples from the web for important
  • It's simple, effective, and more important than it might seem.
  • Ask students to look at the picture and think about why the river and lake water is important to everything else pictured.
  • They will select a handful of important natural and cultural characteristics of places.
  • Empty hives are causing a lot of worry about some important food crops.
  • The discovery provides important information on how fear is experienced and processed.
  • Water is an all-important resource for human and other life.
  • It is also a culturally important and charismatic species.
  • If you want so show that something is important, take a photograph of it in the foreground.
  • The find shows that parasites also play an important role.
  • They regulate the populations of other animals and also provide an important food source.
British Dictionary definitions for important

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 by to. specially relevant or of great concern (to); valued highly (by): your wishes are important to me
4.
an obsolete word for importunate
Derived Forms
importantly, adverb
Usage note
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
Word Origin
C16: from Old Italian importante, from Medieval Latin importāre to signify, be of consequence, from Latin: to carry in; see import
Word Origin and History for important
adj.

mid-15c., from Middle French important and directly from Medieval Latin importantem (nominative importans), present participle of importare "be significant in," from Latin importare "bring in" (see import). Related: Importantly.

Slang definitions & phrases for important

important

adjective

Impressive; imposing; heavy, serious: wear short dresses made of metal and leather and have important hair (1980s+)