Synonyms: importance, consequence, significance, import, weight
These nouns refer to the state or quality of being significant, influential, or worthy of note or esteem. Importance is the most general term: the importance of a proper diet. Consequence is especially applicable to persons or things of notable rank or position (scholars of consequence) and to what is important because of its possible outcome, result, or effect (tax laws of consequence to investors). Significance and import refer to the quality of something that gives it special meaning or value: an event of real significance; works of great social import. Weight suggests seriousness or authority: "The popular faction at Rome ... was led by men of weight" (J.A. Froude).