important
adjective
im·por·tant im-ˈpȯr-tᵊnt 
especially Southern US and New England -tənt,
-dənt
1
: marked by or indicative of significant worth or consequence : valuable in content or relationship
2
: giving evidence of a feeling of self-importance
3
obsolete : importunate, urgent
Synonyms
- big
- consequential
- earthshaking
- earth-shattering
- eventful
- historic
- major
- material
- meaningful
- momentous
- monumental
- much
- significant
- substantial
- tectonic
- weighty
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Diet and exercise are important for health. In his editorial, he made several important points. Scientists have made an important discovery. Doing her job well is important to her. He's one of the most important scholars in his field.
Recent Examples on the Web This is important because the core of the pyrocumulus clouds fanning smoke from the fire are around that height. 
Dominic Fracassa, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Sep. 2022 That's important because every crane alive is descended from 15 that lived in Texas in 1941. Janet Mcconnaughey, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 Community gardens are about more than food access and security — although both are important, according to Howard Rosing, a cultural anthropologist from DePaul University. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 That was important, as the surgeon’s standing was on the edge. BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Penn told him that while dominating Western Athletic Conference opponents was important, doing it against marquee programs was his ticket. Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 What is important, however, is that every Coke product tastes like a Coke. Danielle Wiener-bronner, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Trump’s success in commanding popular attention and support is important, even if evidence of a wholesale shift of working-class voters to the Republican Party is far from conclusive. Kim Phillips-fein, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 Being able to reverse the process is important for many people, said King. Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2022 See More
Dominic Fracassa, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Sep. 2022 That's important because every crane alive is descended from 15 that lived in Texas in 1941. Janet Mcconnaughey, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 Community gardens are about more than food access and security — although both are important, according to Howard Rosing, a cultural anthropologist from DePaul University. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 That was important, as the surgeon’s standing was on the edge. BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Penn told him that while dominating Western Athletic Conference opponents was important, doing it against marquee programs was his ticket. Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 What is important, however, is that every Coke product tastes like a Coke. Danielle Wiener-bronner, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Trump’s success in commanding popular attention and support is important, even if evidence of a wholesale shift of working-class voters to the Republican Party is far from conclusive. Kim Phillips-fein, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 Being able to reverse the process is important for many people, said King. Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English importante, from Medieval Latin important-, importans, present participle of importare to signify — more at import entry 1
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing important
Kids Definition
important
adjective
im·por·tant im-ˈpȯr-tᵊnt
1
: having serious meaning or worth
Graduation is an important event in your life.
2
: having power or authority
an important leader
important
adjective
1
as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect the discovery of penicillin was a very important event in the history of medicine Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- major
- significant
- historic
- big
- meaningful
- much
- substantial
- momentous
- exceptional
- pivotal
- monumental
- tectonic
- crucial
- remarkable
- distinguished
- noteworthy
- consequential
- eventful
- material
- decisive
- outstanding
- valuable
- notable
- prominent
- great
- earthshaking
- strategic
- distinctive
- earth-shattering
- outstanding
- serious
- worthy
- worthwhile
- weighty
- key
- seminal
- essential
- impressive
- critical
- vital
- fatal
- famous
- earnest
- fateful
- central
- prestigious
- sincere
- eminent
- illustrious
- noble
- grave
- renowned
- all-important
- notorious
- preeminent
- heavy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unimportant
- small
- trivial
- insignificant
- little
- minor
- negligible
- inconsequential
- inconsiderable
- trifling
- slight
- worthless
- petty
- unknown
- obscure
- paltry
- anonymous
- nameless
- uncelebrated
2
as in influential
having great power or influence Rachel Carson was an important figure in the environmental movement Synonyms & Similar Words
- influential
- significant
- powerful
- strong
- prominent
- potent
- mighty
- great
- senior
- outstanding
- effective
- heavy
- distinguished
- notable
- top
- efficient
- noteworthy
- able
- famous
- celebrated
- capable
- dominant
- puissant
- heavy-duty
- competent
- prestigious
- renowned
- robust
- dynamic
- notorious
- eminent
- illustrious
- high-level
- noble
- vigorous
- autocratical
- famed
- preeminent
- energetic
- authoritarian
- magisterial
- despotic
- autocratic
- forceful
- tyrannical
- dictatorial
- tyrannic
- high-powered
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unimportant
- insignificant
- little
- weak
- powerless
- helpless
- impotent
- feeble
- unknown
- obscure
- flimsy
- infirm
- frail
- anonymous
- ineffective
- incapable
- unfit
- incompetent
- nameless
- unqualified
- unskilled
- inept
- uncelebrated
- unskillful
- inexpert
3
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude an important businessman who always expects special treatment wherever he goes Synonyms & Similar Words
- arrogant
- superior
- dominant
- cavalier
- masterful
- dominating
- proud
- toplofty
- domineering
- assumptive
- uppity
- presuming
- presumptuous
- uppish
- pretentious
- bumptious
- huffish
- supercilious
- pompous
- imperious
- sniffy
- lofty
- huffy
- haughty
- smug
- highfalutin
- high-and-mighty
- toploftical
- authoritarian
- peremptory
- hifalutin
- chesty
- patronizing
- self-assertive
- high-handed
- high-hat
- overweening
- saucy
- vain
- bossy
- disdainful
- impudent
- snobbish
- magisterial
- condescending
- pontifical
- snobby
- bragging
- vainglorious
- impertinent
- pontificating
- boastful
- lordly
- self-asserting
- egocentric
- bombastic
- stiff-necked
- snooty
- narcissistic
- self-affected
- cocky
- complacent
- uninhibited
- hubristic
- conceited
- egotistic
- blusterous
- egoistic
- forward
- braggy
- prideful
- swaggering
- self-pleased
- self-applauding
- egotistical
- egoistical
- immodest
- extroverted
- orgulous
- braggart
- blustery
- self-centered
- self-flattering
- self-complacent
- self-satisfied
- stuck-up
- unreserved
- brash
- self-conceited
- self-loving
- self-promoting
- extraverted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modest
- humble
- unpretentious
- lowly
- timid
- subdued
- unarrogant
- shy
- passive
- shrinking
- diffident
- unobtrusive
- introverted
- bashful
- sheepish
- compliant
- quiet
- unassuming
- deferential
- demure
- unaggressive
- mousy
- submissive
- overmodest
- meek
- unassertive
- acquiescent
- yielding
- reserved
- self-critical
- cringing
- retiring
- mousey
- self-doubting
- cowering
4
as in proud
having too high an opinion of oneself oh, you're so important—you think the world revolves around you Synonyms & Similar Words
- proud
- smug
- vain
- arrogant
- confident
- consequential
- assured
- selfish
- domineering
- biggety
- vainglorious
- complacent
- conceited
- egotistic
- egoistic
- prideful
- bigheaded
- pompous
- swellheaded
- egotistical
- egoistical
- self-important
- biggity
- superior
- fastuous
- bragging
- toplofty
- self-satisfied
- stuck-up
- masterful
- snobbish
- assumptive
- overweening
- cavalier
- bombastic
- uppity
- boastful
- snobby
- self-conceited
- braggy
- cocky
- uppish
- bumptious
- disdainful
- supercilious
- presuming
- snooty
- pontifical
- blusterous
- pretentious
- swaggering
- overconfident
- presumptuous
- huffy
- haughty
- lofty
- braggart
- self-opinionated
- imperious
- blustery
- chesty
- patronizing
- peremptory
- high-and-mighty
- toploftical
- highfalutin
- condescending
- hifalutin
- self-affected
- self-assertive
- high-hat
- self-confident
- self-gratulatory
- self-applauding
- self-assured
- self-adulatory
- high-handed
- holier-than-thou
- lordly
- self-contented
- self-dramatizing
- self-engrossed
- self-asserting
- self-centered
- self-glorifying
- self-congratulatory
- self-promoting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modest
- humble
- diffident
- uncomplacent
- timid
- egoless
- unpretentious
- unassuming
- meek
- unassertive
- self-reproachful
- self-distrustful
- self-reproving
- self-critical
- shrinking
- unarrogant
- introverted
- shy
- bashful
- overmodest
- sheepish
- retiring
- self-doubting
- demure
- mousy
- down-to-earth
- mousey