important

/ɪmˈpɔːtnt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈpɔːrtnt/ (ame, ipa) · /im-ˈpȯr-tᵊnt especially Southern US and New England -tənt, -dənt/ (ame, mw)

important — 形容詞

  • importantpositive
  • more importantcomparative
  • most importantsuperlative

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

1.形容詞A2
釋義

重要

具有重大價值或必要性的；需要認真對待的

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.

例句

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

手術前，醫生仔細向 Élise 說明了最重要的步驟。

collocation: important steps

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

Reema 將重要文件檢查了兩次，才寄給客戶。

collocation: important documents

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • unimportant

    The direct opposite — having little value or significance

  • trivial

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

文法句型

it is important to + infinitive

important to + noun / pronoun

important for + noun / pronoun

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞B1
釋義

有影響力

能左右局勢、決策或他人想法的

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.

例句

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

Christopher 的專輯銷量不錯後，他成了當地音樂圈有影響力的人物。

collocation: important figure

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

總理在貿易高峰會上會見了幾位重要的企業領袖。

collocation: important business leaders

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • minor

    Describes a person or role with little power or influence

  • insignificant

    Suggests having no real effect or meaningful role

文法句型

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

verb + important + noun

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞C1
釋義

自大

表現得自己很了不起、傲慢的

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.

例句

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

Emre 用緩慢又自大的語氣說話，好像每個人都該仔細聽。

collocation: important voice

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

事務所的高級合夥人擺出一副了不起的姿態，讓新進員工很緊張。

collocation: important manner

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • humble

    Describes someone who does not think they are better than others

  • modest

    Suggests the person does not draw attention to their own achievements

文法句型

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

seem / sound / look + important

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.