IMPORTANT Definition & Meaning

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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

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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.

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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

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Derived Forms

��ˈ��ǰ��ٲ��Գٱ��, adverb

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Other 51�Թ� 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

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51�Թ� 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 )

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51�Թ� 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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Only this time, they were able to stay away from their most important arms.

From

It is positioned about 23 miles from the important seabird colonies of the St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve and the Bass Rock.

From

In effect, when Arsenal finally read Rice's memo, the most important damage had been inflicted.

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"The only way that Irish history and mythology was passed down was orally. I think that's why it's important for us to have that intertwined with our music," Móglaí Bap told Crack magazine last year.

From

Kenya's government spokesman has responded by saying "every life is important", the police watchdog is conducting an investigation and criticised the BBC documentary for being "one-sided".

From

Related 51�Թ�s

importance importation

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