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imported; importing; imports
1
: to bring from a foreign or external source: such as
a
: to bring (something, such as merchandise) into a place or country from another country
b
: to transfer (files or data) from one format to another usually within a new file
3
archaic
: to be of importance to : concern
: to be of consequence : matter
importer
noun
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Verb
a dealer who imports cars from Italy to the U.S.
software that makes it simple to import digital photographs onto your hard drive
Noun
This car is an import from Italy.
They sell luxury imports from around the world.
laws affecting the import of foreign goods
This is an issue of little import to voters.
a matter of great import
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Recent Examples on the Web
Max Bearak Giacomo D’orlando, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2023
In April, the U.S. traded Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian smuggler convicted of conspiring to import cocaine, for Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine who had been imprisoned in Russia for nearly three years.
—CBS News, 9 Dec. 2022
As more bison are born, the site will likely import and export animals to and from other rewilding projects to control numbers and increase herd genetic diversity.
—Victoria Turk, Wired, 19 July 2022
Reed came home following a prisoner exchange with Russia for Konstantin Yaroshenko, convicted of conspiring to import cocaine.
—William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 12 July 2022
Wednesday's plans could help international companies continue to import, sell and distribute formula into the U.S. past November.
—Wyatte Grantham-philips, USA TODAY, 7 July 2022
Our tester also loved the ability to sync the music version of the watch with her Schwinn IC4 bike, providing the ability to import data like speed and distance into the Connect app.
—SELF, 17 Nov. 2022
Ergo, cutting off China’s ability to import all-important semiconductors will slow its geopolitical ascendence and aggression.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2022
The fire, which the government said was started by a lightning strike, crippled Cuba's ability to import and store fuel for its ailing power grid.
—José De Córdoba, WSJ, 28 Sep. 2022
Abdi Latif Dahir, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Mar. 2023
Polis, however, downplays the import in Colorado’s change from red to blue.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Coach Brian Dutcher chose a simply way to explain the import, as well.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023
Its last Broadway revival, a West End import staged in 1997, took home four Tonys, including Best Actress for the towering Janet McTeer.
—Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2023
But Navalny, a thrilling portrait of a Russian resistance leader, won PGA and BAFTA prizes, and voters tend to reward social import.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2023
Connected fitness giants Peloton and iFit are facing an import ban on their fitness equipment.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 9 Mar. 2023
In December, the ITC ruled that Apple infringed (PDF) on AliveCor's patent; however, no import ban is currently in effect.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 22 Feb. 2023
Here’s a sampling of the latest life sciences trends with the greatest import for business and patients.
—Susan Galer, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023
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Verb
Japan, Taiwan and Singapore, which import nearly all their energy, have also said hydrogen will be key to becoming carbon neutral economies.
—Max Bearak Giacomo D’orlando, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2023
In April, the U.S. traded Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian smuggler convicted of conspiring to import cocaine, for Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine who had been imprisoned in Russia for nearly three years.
—CBS News, 9 Dec. 2022
As more bison are born, the site will likely import and export animals to and from other rewilding projects to control numbers and increase herd genetic diversity.
—Victoria Turk, Wired, 19 July 2022
Reed came home following a prisoner exchange with Russia for Konstantin Yaroshenko, convicted of conspiring to import cocaine.
—William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 12 July 2022
Wednesday's plans could help international companies continue to import, sell and distribute formula into the U.S. past November.
—Wyatte Grantham-philips, USA TODAY, 7 July 2022
Our tester also loved the ability to sync the music version of the watch with her Schwinn IC4 bike, providing the ability to import data like speed and distance into the Connect app.
—SELF, 17 Nov. 2022
Ergo, cutting off China’s ability to import all-important semiconductors will slow its geopolitical ascendence and aggression.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2022
The fire, which the government said was started by a lightning strike, crippled Cuba's ability to import and store fuel for its ailing power grid.
—José De Córdoba, WSJ, 28 Sep. 2022
Noun
Many religious leaders say that homosexuality is a Western import and have held protests and rallies urging legislators to introduce laws that would harshly penalize gay people.
—Abdi Latif Dahir, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Mar. 2023
Polis, however, downplays the import in Colorado’s change from red to blue.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Coach Brian Dutcher chose a simply way to explain the import, as well.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023
Its last Broadway revival, a West End import staged in 1997, took home four Tonys, including Best Actress for the towering Janet McTeer.
—Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2023
But Navalny, a thrilling portrait of a Russian resistance leader, won PGA and BAFTA prizes, and voters tend to reward social import.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2023
Connected fitness giants Peloton and iFit are facing an import ban on their fitness equipment.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 9 Mar. 2023
In December, the ITC ruled that Apple infringed (PDF) on AliveCor's patent; however, no import ban is currently in effect.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 22 Feb. 2023
Here’s a sampling of the latest life sciences trends with the greatest import for business and patients.
—Susan Galer, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'import.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Medieval Latin importare to bring in, cause, signify, from Latin, to bring in, cause, from in- + portare to carry — more at fare
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a
Noun
1548, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Time Traveler
The first known use of import was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near import
Cite this Entry
“Import.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/import. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
import
1 of 2 verb
im·port
im-ˈpō(ə)rt 
-ˈpȯ(ə)rt
-ˈpȯ(ə)rt
ˈim-ˌpō(ə)rt,
-ˌpȯ(ə)rt
2
: to be important : matter
3
: to bring (as goods) into a country from another country usually for selling
imports coffee
imported cars
importer
noun
import
2 of 2 noun
im·port
ˈim-ˌpō(ə)rt
-ˌpȯ(ə)rt
More from Merriam-Webster on import
Nglish: Translation of import for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of import for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about import
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