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importance definition

im·por·tance (im pôrt'ns)

noun

  1. the state or quality of being important; significance; consequence
  2. Obsolete
    1. a matter or consequence
    2. import, or meaning
    3. importunity

Etymology: MFr < OIt importanza

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

importance Synonyms

importance

n.

  1. The quality of being important

    significance, consequence, import, weight, moment, signification, drift, force, sense, tenor, purport, bearing, denotation, gist, effect, distinction, influence, usefulness, weightiness, momentousness, magnitude, value, materialness, emphasis, standing, caliber, stress, accent, concern, attention, interest, seriousness, gravity, point, substance, relevance, notable feature, sum and substance, cardinal point, essence; see also meaning, value 3, 4.

    Antonyms insignificance*, triviality*, emptiness. *

  2. Prominence

    greatness, eminence, consequence, moment; see fame 1, quality 3, rank 2, 3.

importance, the broadest of these terms, implies greatness of worth, meaning, influence, etc. news of importance; consequence, often interchangeable with the preceding, more specifically suggests importance with regard to outcome or result a disagreement of no consequence or resulting from social position a woman of consequence; moment expresses this same idea of importance in effect with somewhat stronger force affairs of great moment; weight implies an estimation of the relative importance of something his word carries great weight with us; significance implies an importance or momentousness because of a special meaning that may or may not be immediately apparent an event of significance


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

importance Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • hygiene: Advice about the importance of good hygiene should be given and HAV vaccination considered as above.

Converse of object

  • emphasize: Trotsky emphasized the importance of the British trade unions.

Preposition: for

  • conservation: Some areas have been identified as being of international, national or local importance for nature conservation.

Adjective modifier

  • paramount: However the welfare of others is always of paramount importance.

Noun used with modifier

  • conservation: West Angle Bay ) have a considerable marine biological and conservation importance.
importance usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

importance quotes

The man who offers a bribe gives awaya little of his own importance; the bribe once accepted, he becomes the inferior, like a man who has just paid for a woman.

-Greene, (Henry) Graham

Official dignity tends to increase in inverse ratio to the importance of the country in which the office is held.

-Huxley, Aldous Leonard

I think modern educational theorists are inclined to attachtoomuch importancetothenegative virtue of not interfering with children, and too little to the positive merit of enjoying their company.

-Russell, Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl

importance quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"importance." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/importance>

APA Style

importance. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/importance

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