important
/ɪmˈpɔː.tənt/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Something important has a big effect on people, events, or results. It deserves attention because it matters a lot.
- This is an important decision.
- Family is important to me.
- We have an important meeting tomorrow.
Adinary Nuance
Important is the safest all-purpose word when you want to say something matters. It is broader and more neutral than vital, critical, or urgent, which sound stronger and more specific. Compared with significant, important is simpler and more common in everyday speech. In writing, important works well when you do not want to sound too dramatic.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- quan trọng
- Spanish
- importante
- Chinese
- 重要的
- Japanese
- 重要な
- Korean
- 중요한
Etymology
Important came into English in the 1400s from Old French important, from Latin importare, meaning “to bring in” or “to matter.” The sense shifted to “having value or weight.”
Common phrases
important roleimportant pointimportant decisionimportant issue
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is important formal or informal?
- It is neutral. You can use it in speech, emails, and academic writing.
- What is the difference between important and significant?
- Important means something matters. Significant often suggests a clear effect, change, or measurable result.
- Can I say very important?
- Yes. It is common and natural when you want to stress strong importance.
- Is important common in IELTS writing?
- Yes. It is very common and safe, but try stronger words when the meaning needs more precision.