all-important

adjective

all-im·​por·​tant ˌȯl-im-ˈpȯr-tᵊnt 

-tənt

: of very great or greatest importance

an all-important question

Synonyms of all-important

• essential
• necessary
• integral
• required
• needed
• needful
• vital
• critical
• crucial

Examples of all-important in a Sentence

that all-important item for a successful birthday party: a fancily decorated cake with candles

Recent Examples on the Web

For that all-important hydration, look for moisture magnets like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, along with emollients such as squalane, which help concealer glide over dry areas instead of clinging to them. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026

His administration argues that beating China in the race to AI dominance is an all-important goal. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

With so much of the frenzied James Bond interest centered on who might be taking over from Daniel Craig as 007, something many believe is going to be announced imminently, the matter of the all-important script has largely been ignored. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

And while the brand still works with ambassadors of all ages, it’s shifted focused in the last two years to build relevance with the all-important and discerning Gen Z. — Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for all-important

• unimportant
• important

Kids Definition

all-important

adjective

all-im·​por·​tant

ˌȯ-lim-ˈpȯrt-ᵊnt, 

-ənt

: of very great importance

an all-important question