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importance

importance

663 1.0
A quality that makes something have great value or effect
  • noun
  • /ɪmˈpɔːrtəns/
translation icon : importancia
  • This was and continues to be of great importance to the Olone people.
  • emphasize the importance
  • highlight the importance
  • stress the importance

We should also see the importance of sorrow and longing.

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Examples

  • The ruling party had difficulty explaining the importance of the process to its own base.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The teacher emphasized the importance of studying regularly for success in exams.

  • Where this becomes of key historical importance is in the church.

  • Made me really appreciate the importance of role models like you.

  • So this really taught me the importance of taking steps.

  • And he was right about the importance of this technology.

  • Children also appear to be aware of the importance of visual information in picture books.

    Academic text (2012)
  • But we highlight here the importance of the values of human rights.

  • So this further highlights the importance of this mechanism.

  • The message I received from school was about the importance of the ensemble, dedication, and practice.

    Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

worth
vsimportance
1.7

Important enough to deserve time or effort

covers broad value status and influence rather than only deserved usefulness
weight
vsimportance
374 3.0

Importance or influence given to something

refers more generally to overall value or social position not only emphasis
significance
vsimportance
194 3.8

How important something is or how much it matters

also covers value and status not only special meaning
greatness
vsimportance
165 3.5

The quality of being very important and admired for skill or achievements

includes general value and influence, not only honor or fame
salience
vsimportance
2 7.5

A quality that is easy to notice and more important than other things

relates to overall value or status rather than mere noticeability
meaningfulness
vsimportance
1 4.9

Something that has a clear purpose or value

stresses external worth and influence more than inner purpose
momentousness
vsimportance
  • Formal
1 7.9

Being very important and likely to have big effects

covers general value or influence even for small or everyday matters
essentialness
vsimportance
1 6.6

How necessary and important something is

is broader, including high worth or influence beyond strict necessity
valuableness
vsimportance
6.6

The quality of having worth or importance

also includes social status and influence beyond mere monetary value
cruciality
vsimportance
8.2

The great importance of something for a result or decision

relates more to general value or rank rather than acute urgency

Antonyms

A state of not being important or having little effect

1 4.6

A situation or thing that is not worth much attention

Compounds

Thinking you are more important than other people

How Important

significance
194 3.8
importance
663 1.0

Surface Forms

importance singular
importances plural

Morphology

importance = important (transparent) = important + ance

The noun is a regular nominalization of the adjective 'important' with '-ance', so learners who know 'important' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Importance comes from the same root as import and important, which once meant 'to carry' and so 'to have weight' or 'to matter'. So, importance is the quality of 'being significant' or 'worth attention'.