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

Those headwinds also coincide with the beginning of the all-important spring planting season, a key time for fertilizer purchases, according to Morgan Stanley. —Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026

Mark Kastelic takes the opening faceoff, wins the all-important draw and heads off the ice, to be replaced by a player presumed to have more offensive chops. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026

Pickett isn’t a threat to Young, who enters an all-important fourth season. —Mike Kaye updated March 9, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026

Frost and other Central Florida officials such as orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson have cited the potential impacts to the region’s all-important tourism economy such a facility could have. —Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 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