important
adjective
im·por·tant
im-ˈpȯr-tᵊnt
especially Southern US and New England -tənt,
-dənt
1
a
: marked by or indicative of significant worth or consequence : valuable in content or relationship
an important member of the team
Exercise is important for good health.
b
: deserving serious attention
made several important points
2
: giving evidence of a feeling of self-importance
answered in an important manner
3
obsolete
: importunate, urgent
Importantly vs. Important: Usage Guide
A number of commentators have objected to importantly as a sentence modifier (the use defined above at sense 1) and have recommended important instead. Actually, both the adverb and the adjective are in reputable standard use in this function. Important is always used with more or most.
had bronze weapons and composite bows; more important, they utilized the horse and war chariot
—Harry A. Gailey, Jr.
second and most important, the book contains no important woman character
—F. Scott Fitzgerald
Importantly is commonly used in similar contexts, but it is somewhat more flexible in not requiring more or most.
sticks and, just as importantly, unsticks easily
—Phoebe Hawkins
importantly, the leaven in the mixture is quality
—George O'Brien
Cite this Entry
“Important.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/important. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.
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