Important

How to spell important

9 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce important

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does important mean?

1. adjectiveHaving great significance, value, or consequence; mattering a lot.

Important in a sentence

• It's important to lock the door.

• The important thing is that you're safe.

Where does important come from?

Language of origin: Latin

The word comes from the Medieval Latin importans, importantis, the present participle of importare, which literally meant 'to carry in' or 'to bring in', built from the prefix in- 'in' and portare 'to carry'. The figurative leap was that something which 'carries weight' or has bearing on a matter is significant, so the sense shifted from physical carrying to mattering greatly. English took the word in the late 1500s, partly through French important, which carried the same idea of consequence. The same portare root sits inside everyday relatives like 'transport' (carry across), 'export' (carry out), and 'porter' (one who carries). Remembering that hidden 'import' inside it helps fix the spelling: it is import plus -ant, not -ent.

How the word is built

• import (from Latin importare: to bring in, to carry weight)
• -ant (adjective suffix)