Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense imports, present participle importing, past tense, past participle importedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (ɪmpɔːʳt). The noun is pronounced (ɪmpɔːʳt).
1. verb
To import products or raw materials means to buy them from another country for use in your own country.
Britain last year spent nearly £5000 million more on importing food than sellingabroad. [VERB noun]
...oil, soy and other products it plans to import from Brazil. [VERB + from]
...imported goods from Mexico and India. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: bring in, buy in, ship in, land More Synonyms of import
Import is also a noun.
There were new restrictions on the import of sweet chestnut trees. [+ of]
On July 3rd the government slashed import duties on cars.
importation (ɪmpɔːʳteɪʃən)uncountable noun
...restrictions concerning the importation of birds. [+ of]
2. countable noun [usually plural]
Imports are products or raw materials bought from another country for use in your own country.
...farmers protesting about cheap imports.
Synonyms: imported goods, foreign goods More Synonyms of import
3. uncountable noun
The import of something is its importance.
[formal]
Who leads Canada is also of some import to the rest of the world.
Such arguments are of little import.
Synonyms: significance, concern, value, worth More Synonyms of import
4. verb
If you import files or information into one type of software from another type, you open them in a format that can be used in the new software.
[computing]
This device will enable you to import these files onto your computer. [VERB noun]
5. singular noun [with poss]
The import of something is its meaning, especially when the meaning is not clearly expressed.
[formal]
I have already spoken about the import of his speech. [+ of]
Synonyms: meaning, implication, significance, sense More Synonyms of import
import in British English
verb (ɪmˈpɔːt, ˈɪmpɔːt)
1.
to buy or bring in (goods or services) from a foreign country
Compare export
2. (transitive)
to bring in from an outside source
to import foreign words into the language
3. rare
to signify or be significant; mean; convey
to import doom
noun (ˈɪmpɔːt)
4. (often plural)
a.
goods (visible imports) or services (invisible imports) that are bought from foreign countries
b.
(as modifier)
an import licence
5.
significance or importance
a man of great import
6.
meaning or signification
7. informal
a sportsman or sportswoman who is not native to the country in which he or she plays
Derived forms
importable (imˈportable)
adjective
importability (imˌportaˈbility)
noun
importer (imˈporter)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin importāre to carry in, from im- + portāre to carry
import in American English
(ɪmˈpɔrt; ˈɪmˌpɔrt; for n. ˈɪmˌpɔrt)
verb transitive
1.
a.
to bring in from the outside; introduce
b.
to bring (goods) from another country or countries, esp. for purposes of sale
2.
to mean; signify
an action that imports trouble
3. Archaic
to be of importance to; concern
verb intransitive
4.
to be of importance; matter
noun
5.
the act or business of importing (goods)
6.
something imported
7.
meaning; signification
8.
importance
adjective
9.
of or for importing or imports
Derived forms
importable (imˈportable)
adjective
importer (imˈporter)
noun
Word origin
ME importen < L importare, to bring in, introduce < in-, in + portare, to carry (see fare); import (sense 2), import (sense 3), & import verb intransitive < ML importare, to imply, mean, be of importance < L
import in Retail1
(ɪmpɔrt)
Word forms: (regular plural) imports
noun
(Retail: Distribution)
Imports are goods brought into the country from another country.
Cheap imports have destroyed the home-grown apparel manufacturing sector.
Imports of fruit and vegetables from the other side of the world often have a large carbonfootprint.
Imports are goods brought into the country from another country.
export, export
import in Retail2
(ɪmpɔrt)
Word forms: (present) imports, (past) imported, (perfect) imported, (progressive) importing
verb
(Retail: Distribution)
To import is to bring goods in from another country.
Large-volume discount stores that sell the most inexpensive products import from low-cost suppliers in the Far East.
Cotton and other raw materials imported from around the world have risen in price.
To import is to bring goods in from another country.
export, export
Examples of 'import' in a sentence
import
Cheap imports harmed steel producers but they also kept prices down for consumers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They also would not be able to deduct the cost of goods they import.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Energy is one of an array of imported goods set to become more expensive.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
On the other hand, the higher cost of importing raw goods is a negative.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is also importing modest but rising volumes from Russia.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
BRITAIN'S farmers are urging the government to avoid allowing cheaper food imports under post-Brexit trade deals.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There is no need for British enterprise to import shale gas indefinitely because this country has its own abundant resources.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What about businesses that import?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And almost 50 per cent of the gas we use is imported from countries like Russia.
The Sun (2016)
The Premier League clubs are under so much pressure to perform that they buy imports and foreigners at very high prices to bolster up their teams.
The Sun (2016)
The slowdown in the economy has also reduced imports.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Transfer prices can be used to reduce import tariffs and to avoid quotas.
Maurice D. Levi International Finance: The markets and financial management of multinational business. (1983)
That is already reflected in import prices.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That is not always the case with cheaper imported alternatives.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It makes me laugh that we talk about the imports needing time to settle in.
The Sun (2015)
We import hops from foreign countries to produce beer.
The Sun (2012)
The weaker rouble is making imported consumer goods more expensive.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Middle-class consumers are rushing to buy imported cars and fridges while they are still affordable.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We no longer have coal mines and import coal.
The Sun (2016)
They follow a dive in oil exports and a surge in imports of gas and electricity.
The Sun (2006)
The cost of our imports also seems to have stabilised.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It has already begun to import more gold.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Britain imports about a third of the goods and services it consumes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Many foreign imports do not form particularly strong bonds with the locals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Walking about looking bored by the action which is taking place around them is another recently imported trait.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
People who come from another country, they import the way people manage in their country.
The Sun (2008)
This French import should be much sharper today.
The Sun (2012)
The refineries can be used to import raw sugar from other producing countries such as Brazil.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
If a country imports energy, in the end it cannot produce the metal.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Cheap Chinese steel imports and high energy costs have blighted the industry.
The Sun (2016)
Will we need import licences?
The Sun (2016)
The tunnel has since carried 12 million vans and lorries, most of them bringing in imports.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The French import has only raced once this term when winning easily at Punchestown last month.
The Sun (2009)
In other languages
import
British English: import /ˈɪmpɔːt/ NOUN
Imports are products or raw materials bought from another country for use in your own country.
...cheap imports from other countries.
American English: import
Arabic: إِسْتِيرَادٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: importação
Chinese: 进口货
Croatian: uvoz
Czech: dovoz
Danish: import
Dutch: import
European Spanish: importación
Finnish: maahantuonti
French: importation
German: Import
Greek: εισαγωγή
Italian: importazione
Japanese: 輸入
Korean: 수입품
Norwegian: import
Polish: import
European Portuguese: importação
Romanian: import
Russian: импорт
Latin American Spanish: importación
Swedish: import
Thai: สินค้านำเข้า
Turkish: ithal
Ukrainian: імпорт
Vietnamese: hàng nhập khẩu
British English: import /ɪmˈpɔːt/ VERB
When a country or organization imports a product, they buy it from another country for use in their own country.
The country imports over half of its oil.
American English: import
Arabic: يَسْتَوْرِدُ
Brazilian Portuguese: importar
Chinese: 进口
Croatian: uvesti
Czech: dovážet
Danish: importere
Dutch: importeren
European Spanish: importar productos
Finnish: tuoda maahan
French: importer commerce
German: importieren
Greek: εισάγω
Italian: importare
Japanese: 輸入する
Korean: 수입하다
Norwegian: importere
Polish: zaimportować
European Portuguese: importar
Romanian: a importa
Russian: импортировать
Latin American Spanish: importar
Swedish: importera
Thai: นำเข้า
Turkish: ithal etmek
Ukrainian: імпортувати
Vietnamese: nhập khẩu
All related terms of 'import'
grey import
an imported vehicle that does not have an exact model equivalent in the receiving country
import ban
a ban on the importation of certain products from a certain country into the home country
import duty
a tax or duty imposed on imported goods
import levy
a charge imposed on imported goods to raise the price to as least as high as the price would be in the country the goods are being imported to
import-export
international trade and exchange of goods, products and services
import quota
the maximum amount of a product that can be imported into a country within a given period of time
import tariff
a tax or duty imposed on imported goods
import trade
goods, services and products brought into a country and which were bought from another country
import licence
a government-issued document that authorizes the importation of goods into its country
import surcharge
a tax imposed on all imported goods, adding to any established tariffs
gold import point
an exchange rate at which it is as cheap to settle international accounts by importing gold bullion as by selling bills of exchange
import-export trade
international trade and exchange of goods, products and services