Entry Word: important

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 having great meaning or lasting effect <the discovery of penicillin was a very important event in the history of medicine>

Synonyms big, consequential, eventful, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, weighty

Related Words decisive, fatal, fateful, strategic; earnest, grave, serious, sincere; distinctive, exceptional, impressive, outstanding, prominent, remarkable; valuable, worthwhile, worthy; distinguished, eminent, great, illustrious, preeminent, prestigious; famous, notorious, renowned; all-important, critical, crucial

Near Antonyms inconsiderable, minor, paltry, petty, worthless; anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown

Antonyms insignificant, little, minor, slight, small, trivial, unimportant

2 having great power or influence <Rachel Carson was an important figure in the environmental movement>

Synonyms influential, mighty, potent, powerful, puissant, significant, strong

Related Words high-level, senior, top; able, capable, competent, effective, efficient; authoritarian, autocratic, despotic, dictatorial, magisterial, tyrannical (also tyrannic); distinguished, dominant, eminent, famous, great, illustrious, notorious, preeminent, prestigious, renowned; dynamic, energetic, forceful, robust, sturdy, tough, vigorous

Near Antonyms feeble, flimsy, frail, infirm; anonymous, obscure; incapable, incompetent, ineffective, inept, unfit, useless

Antonyms impotent, insignificant, little, powerless, unimportant, weak

3 having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude <an important businessman who always expects special treatment wherever he goes> — see arrogant
4 having too high an opinion of oneself <oh, youʼre so important—you think the world revolves around you> — see conceited