importance Hear it!

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

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

importance Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • hygiene: Advice about the importance of good hygiene should be given and HAV vaccination considered as above.
  • nutrition: The importance of adequate nutrition for a child's physical development and concentration in school must be brought home to teachers.
  • communication: Always bear in mind the importance of communications with staff, whether to inform, update or to reassure.
  • factor: However, the importance of economic factors and the professional attitudes of doctors and officials in shaping a popular consensus must not be forgotten.
  • involvement: In fact, the new DfES E-learning Strategy document ( 2003 ) highlights the importance of teacher involvement in the design of new technology.
  • diet: A. In caring for a child with Cystic Fibrosis a great deal of emphasis is placed on the importance of diet and growth.

Converse of object

  • emphasize: Trotsky emphasized the importance of the British trade unions.
  • recognize: A majority recognized the importance of eating patterns in relation to dental caries.
  • stress: Thank you, JS - I can't stress often enough the importance of knowing we have a regular, secure source of income.
  • highlight: The Bog Standard campaign aims to highlight the importance of access to decent hygiene facilities.
  • underline: These are to underline the importance of debate in history.
  • attach: Health Center The Bank attaches great importance to the wellbeing of its staff.

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.
  • utmost: Being able to stop the boat is also of the utmost importance.
  • vital: The Center for Social Justice affirms the vital importance in politics of treating all humanity with dignity.
  • relative: The sequence of topic letters shows the relative importance of the topic.
  • crucial: Access to the public transport system is then said to be of crucial importance for those without access to a car.
  • fundamental: Trust is not only of fundamental importance, it is deep in human nature we each trust hundreds of people every day.

Noun used with modifier

  • conservation: West Angle Bay ) have a considerable marine biological and conservation importance.
importance Quotes

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

Ce serait diminuer leur importance que de croire qu'ils ne servent qu'a'   garantir la liberte¤  ; ils maintiennent la civilisation. It would diminish the importance [of newspapers] to believe that they only serve to guarantee freedom; they maintain civilization.

—Tocqueville, Alexis Charles Henri Cle¤  rel de

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

—Huxley, Aldous Leonard

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