all-important

adjective

all-im·​por·​tant ˌȯl-im-ˈpȯr-tᵊnt 

-tənt

: of very great or greatest importance

an all-important question

Synonyms

• 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

Despite the double-digit collapse on the all-important trade lane, which carries the largest market share in the industry at 24.4 percent of cargo-tonne kilometers (CTKs), overall air cargo demand worldwide increased 2.2 percent during the month. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 30 June 2025

In the nearly 30 years since Cane's founding, its menu hasn't budged: chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, coleslaw and the all-important trademark sauce. —Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 30 June 2025

Earlier this month, Kennedy dismantled the all-important Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and remade it into the spearhead for his anti-vaccination campaigns. —Michael A. Hiltzik, Mercury News, 28 June 2025

Editor’s Note: China Insight is a monthly column from WWD’s sister publication WWD China on trends in that all-important market. —Li Jun, Footwear News, 28 June 2025

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