Important Meaning
/ɪmˈpɔː.tənt/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjHaving relevant and crucial value; having import.
adjPompous; self-important.
Sentence Examples
This is not important.
You never have time for important things!
Patience is one of the most important attributes in a teacher.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
It is ____ to arrive on time for job interviews because punctuality shows respect.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is very ____ to read the instructions carefully before you begin assembling the new furniture.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English important, from Medieval Latin important-, importāns. By surface analysis, import (“to be important”) + -ant. Displaced native Old English heah and hefig.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between. His clerks, however, understood him very well."
— 1892, Walter Besant, “Prologue: Who is Edmund Gray?”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 6:
"The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen.[…]The second note, the high alarum, not so familiar and always important since it indicates the paramount sin in Man's private calendar, took most of them by surprise although they had been well prepared."
— 1963, Margery Allingham, “Eye Witness”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 249:
"In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual."
— 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
""[…] It is a match that must give universal satisfaction. In short, it is a kind of thing that"—lowering his voice to an important whisper—"will be exceedingly welcome to all parties." Recollecting himself, however, he added, "That is, I mean to say—your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; Fanny particularly […]""
— 1811, [Jane Austen], chapter XI, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume I, London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 206:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
It is ____ to arrive on time for job interviews because punctuality shows respect.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is very ____ to read the instructions carefully before you begin assembling the new furniture.