Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having great significance, value, or consequence: Describes something that matters a lot or has a major effect.
   • Having high rank, status, or authority: Describes a person who holds a powerful or influential position.
   • Showing a sense of self-importance: Behaving in a way that suggests one is very significant.

Examples of Usage

• Having great significance:

  • It is important to drink enough water every day.
  • She made an important contribution to the research project.
  • This is an important decision for our future.

• Having high rank or authority:

  • He met with several important government officials.
  • The letter was sent by an important person in the company.

• Showing a sense of self-importance:

  • He walked into the room with an important air.

Advanced Usage

• "All-important" (adj): Of the utmost importance; crucial.

  • Trust is the all-important factor in a good relationship.

• "Self-important" (adj): Having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance; pompous.

  • His self-important attitude made him unpopular with his colleagues.

Variants and Related Words

• Importance (n): The state or fact of being of great significance or value.

  • The importance of education cannot be overstated.

• Importantly (adv): In an important way or to an important degree.

  • More importantly, we need to consider the long-term effects.

Synonyms

• Significant: Having or likely to have a major effect; important.
• Crucial: Of great importance; decisive or critical.
• Vital: Absolutely necessary or essential; of paramount importance.
• Major: Important, serious, or significant.
• Key: Of crucial importance.

Antonyms

• Unimportant: Lacking in importance or significance.
• Trivial: Of little value or importance.
• Insignificant: Too small or unimportant to be worth consideration.
• Minor: Lesser in importance, seriousness, or significance.

Related Phrases

• Of paramount importance: Of the greatest importance; supreme.

  • Safety is of paramount importance in this laboratory.

• Attach importance to something: To consider something to be important.

  • She attaches great importance to punctuality.

Adjective

1. having or suggesting a consciousness of high position
   • recited the decree with an important air
   • took long important strides in the direction of his office
2. having authority or ascendancy or influence
   • an important official
   • the captain's authoritative manner
3. of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
   • a crucial moment in his career
   • a crucial election
   • a crucial issue for women
4. important in effect or meaning
   • a significant change in tax laws
   • a significant change in the Constitution
   • a significant contribution
   • significant details
   • statistically significant
5. of great significance or value
   • important people
   • the important questions of the day