Important
/ɪmˈpɔːr.tənt/noun
Having great significance or value; influential or consequential.
Did you know?Important ultimately comes from Latin importare, meaning “to bring in,” so its original force was less “prestige” and more “what gets carried into the situation.”
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
importāre
“to bring in, bring into a place”
Late Latin
Latin
importāns
“bringing in; carrying weight or consequence”
Old French
Old French
important
“of consequence, significant”
14th Century
English
important
“of great consequence or significance”
Modern English
English
important
“having great significance, influence, or value”