Dictionary

important

adjective im·por·tant \im-ˈpr-tənt, especially Southern & New England -tənt, -dənt\

: having serious meaning or worth : deserving or requiring serious attention

: having power, authority, or influence

Full Definition of IMPORTANT

1
:  marked by or indicative of significant worth or consequence :  valuable in content or relationship
2
obsolete :  importunate, urgent
3
:  giving evidence of a feeling of self-importance

Usage Discussion of IMPORTANT

A number of commentators have objected to importantly as a sentence modifier (sense 2) and have recommended important instead. Actually both the adverb and the adjective are in reputable standard use in this function. Important is always used with more or most <had bronze weapons and composite bows; more important, they utilized the horse and war chariot — Harry A. Gailey, Jr.> <second and most important, the book contains no important woman character — F. Scott Fitzgerald>. Importantly is somewhat more flexible in not requiring more or most <sticks and, just as importantly, unsticks easily — Phoebe Hawkins> <importantly, the leaven in the mixture is quality — George O'Brien>.
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Origin of IMPORTANT

Middle English importante, from Medieval Latin important-, importans, present participle of importare to signify — more at import
First Known Use: 15th century
IMPORTANT Defined for Kids

important

adjective im·por·tant \im-ˈpr-tənt\

Definition of IMPORTANT for Kids

1
:  having serious meaning or worth <Graduation is an important event in your life.>
2
:  having power or authority <an important leader>
im·por·tant·ly adverb

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