important

IPA/ɪmˈpɔːtnt/
KK[ˌɪmpˈɔrtənt]IPA/ɪmˈpɔːrtnt/

important — adjective

  • importantpositive
  • more importantcomparative
  • most importantsuperlative

1. Something that is important is so valuable or necessary that it deserves your fu

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

Something that is important is so valuable or necessary that it deserves your full attention — for instance, the safety rules at a construction site, or the details you must check before signing a contract.

Example

Before the surgery, the doctor carefully explained the most important steps to Élise.

collocation: important steps

Reema checked the important documents twice before sending them to the client.

collocation: important documents

Common collocations
  • important to
  • important for
  • important part
  • important role
  • important reason
  • important factor
  • important decision
  • important detail
  • important step
  • important rule
  • important idea
Synonyms
  • significant

    Emphasises noticeable effect or meaning; slightly more formal than important

  • essential

    Stronger — suggests the thing is absolutely necessary and cannot be done without

  • crucial

    Even stronger — the outcome depends entirely on this one factor

  • vital

    Similar to essential, often carries life-or-death or urgent overtones

Antonyms
  • unimportant

    The direct opposite — having little value or significance

  • trivial

    Suggests the thing is not just unimportant but also small or petty

Grammar Patterns

it is important to + infinitive

important to + noun / pronoun

important for + noun / pronoun

Usage Note

Common in the pattern 'it is important to…' for stating a necessity or priority. The phrase 'important to me' signals personal value, while 'important for me' signals purpose or benefit.

Common Mistakes

Is this information important for me?
Is this information important to me?
'important to' shows personal value or relevance; 'important for' shows purpose, benefit, or necessity.

2. An important person, group, or institution has the power to shape events, influe

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

An important person, group, or institution has the power to shape events, influence decisions, or affect what other people do — for example, a top government official, a major newspaper, or a leading scientist in their field.

Example

Christopher became an important figure in the local music scene after his album sold well.

collocation: important figure

The prime minister met several important business leaders at the trade summit.

collocation: important business leaders

Common collocations
  • important figure
  • important person
  • important leader
  • important official
  • important member
  • important advisor
  • important client
  • important position
Synonyms
  • influential

    Directly emphasises the power to affect others; often used for people with wide reach

  • powerful

    Focuses on having authority or control over resources and decisions

  • prominent

    Suggests being widely known and respected, often in public life

  • leading

    Describes someone at the front of a field or organisation

Antonyms
  • minor

    Describes a person or role with little power or influence

  • insignificant

    Suggests having no real effect or meaningful role

Grammar Patterns

important + noun (figure, person, official, leader, member)

verb + important + noun

Usage Note

Often modifies nouns for people or positions that carry authority — such as figure, leader, official, member, or advisor. In this sense the subject is typically a person, institution, or event, not an abstract concept.

Common Mistakes

He is very important in the company' (vague).
He holds an important position in the company
specifying the role makes the meaning clearer and avoids ambiguity with sense 3.

3. Someone who behaves in an important way acts as if they are more powerful, intel

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

Someone who behaves in an important way acts as if they are more powerful, intelligent, or valuable than other people, often coming across as arrogant or full of themselves — for instance, speaking in a slow, dramatic tone to seem impressive, or walking into a room as if expecting everyone to pay attention.

Example

Emre spoke in a slow, important voice, as if everyone should listen carefully.

collocation: important voice

The firm's senior partner had an important manner that made new staff feel nervous.

collocation: important manner

Common collocations
  • important voice
  • important manner
  • important look
  • important air
  • important attitude
  • important tone
Synonyms
  • arrogant

    Similar negative tone but focuses on an inflated sense of one's own worth rather than behaviour

  • pompous

    Nearly identical in meaning, emphasises an exaggerated sense of dignity

  • self-important

    The compound form of this same sense; slightly more explicit

  • grand

    Lighter in tone; can describe theatrical behaviour without the same level of criticism

Antonyms
  • humble

    Describes someone who does not think they are better than others

  • modest

    Suggests the person does not draw attention to their own achievements

Grammar Patterns

important + noun (voice, manner, look, air, attitude)

seem / sound / look + important

Usage Note

Almost always appears before a noun describing someone's behaviour or appearance (voice, manner, look, air). Unlike sense 2, this meaning expresses criticism or disapproval — never use it as a compliment.

Common Mistakes

She has an important job at the bank' (intended as compliment but sounds critical).
She has a senior position at the bank
use 'important' in sense 2 only when the context clearly signals respect, or choose a different word to avoid negative overtones.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Significant, essential, crucial, and vital all describe something of great importance in sense 1, but differ in what they emphasise. Significant focuses on noticeable effect or meaning — 'a significant increase in sales'. Essential suggests the thing is absolutely necessary and cannot be done without — 'essential equipment for the climb'. Crucial emphasises that the outcome depends entirely on this one factor — 'a crucial goal in the final minute'. Vital is similar to essential but often carries life-or-death or urgent overtones — 'vital information for the rescue team'. Important is the broadest and most neutral word among them; it can replace any of the others in many contexts, but the alternatives each bring a sharper, more specific shade of meaning.

significant ↗essential ↗crucial ↗vital ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • extremely important
  • very important
  • vitally important
  • critically important
  • particularly important
  • especially important
  • absolutely important

Phrases

  • most important of all
  • above all
  • it is important to note that
  • of great importance
  • play an important role in

Prepositions

  • important to
  • important for

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word important traces back to the Latin verb importare, meaning 'to bring in' or 'to be of consequence'. Importare combines in- ('into') and portare ('to carry'). In medieval Latin the sense shifted from physically carrying goods into a place to the idea that something figuratively 'carries weight' or matters. English borrowed the word through French in the early 1500s, and it has carried the sense of 'having great significance' ever since.