Explanation at your level:
You use important for things that matter. If you have an important test, you must study. It is a very useful word for your daily life.
When something is important, you give it your time. For example, 'It is important to drink water' or 'My family is important to me.' Use it to talk about your priorities.
Use important to describe tasks, people, or events that have a significant impact. You might say, 'It is important to arrive on time for the interview.' It helps you explain your reasons for doing things.
In this stage, you can use important in more complex structures. Try using it with 'that' clauses: 'It is important that you finish the report by Friday.' It adds nuance to your professional communication.
At the advanced level, consider the weight of the word. While important is common, you might use 'pivotal' or 'paramount' for higher register. However, important remains the clearest way to establish significance in academic or persuasive writing.
Mastering important involves understanding its role in rhetoric. It is often used to frame arguments. By stating something is important, you establish a premise for your logic. Its etymological roots in 'carrying weight' serve as a reminder that the word itself carries the authority of the speaker.
30초 단어
- Important means having great value or significance.
- It is a versatile adjective used in all contexts.
- Commonly paired with 'very' or 'most'.
- Its noun form is 'importance'.
When we say something is important, we are telling others that it matters. It is one of those foundational words in English that helps us rank our priorities throughout the day.
Think of it as a spotlight. When you label a task or a person as important, you are shining a light on them so they aren't ignored. Whether it's an important meeting at work or an important lesson in school, the word signals that the subject has real consequences.
The word important has a fascinating journey through history. It comes from the Medieval Latin word importare, which originally meant 'to bring in' or 'to bring into a port'.
Over time, the meaning shifted from physically bringing goods into a harbor to the metaphorical idea of 'bringing in' meaning or weight to a conversation. By the 15th century, it evolved into the sense of 'carrying weight' or 'being of consequence' that we use today. It’s a great example of how language moves from physical actions to abstract concepts.
You will hear important used in almost every setting, from casual chats to formal business reports. It is highly versatile because it can describe people, objects, or even abstract ideas like 'an important decision'.
Commonly, we pair it with 'very' or 'extremely' to add emphasis. In professional settings, you might hear people use synonyms like 'crucial' or 'vital' to sound more specific, but important remains the most reliable and universally understood choice.
While 'important' is a direct adjective, it often appears in phrases that carry similar weight. For example, 'a big deal' is a common casual way to say something is important. Another is 'carry weight', which means an opinion or person is important enough to influence a decision.
We also use 'of the utmost importance' in very formal settings to show that something is absolutely critical. These expressions help you vary your language when you want to sound more natural or emphatic.
Pronounced im-POR-tant, the stress falls on the second syllable. In British English, the 'r' is often softer, while American English speakers emphasize the 'r' sound more clearly.
Grammatically, it is a standard adjective. It does not have a plural form, and it is usually followed by a noun (e.g., 'an important day') or used with the verb 'to be' (e.g., 'It is important that...'). Remember that when using 'that' clauses, we often use the subjunctive mood, such as 'It is important that he be there' rather than 'is' there.
Fun Fact
It evolved from the idea of bringing goods into a port to 'bringing' weight to a conversation.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 't' sounds, 'or' is long.
The 't' in the middle may sound like a quick 'd' or be dropped.
Common Errors
- Misplacing stress on the first syllable
- Dropping the final 't'
- Mispronouncing the 'or' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read.
Easy to use.
Commonly spoken.
Easy to hear.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
고급
Grammar to Know
Subjunctive Mood
It is important that he be here.
Adjective Position
An important book.
Intensifiers
Very important.
Examples by Level
This is an important book.
This / is / an / important / book.
Adjective before noun.
Water is important.
Water / is / important.
Predicate adjective.
Family is important.
Family / is / important.
General truth.
An important day.
An / important / day.
Article usage.
He is an important man.
He / is / an / important / man.
Describing a person.
Is it important?
Is / it / important?
Question form.
Not important.
Not / important.
Negation.
Very important.
Very / important.
Intensifier.
It is important to sleep well.
She has an important job.
This is an important lesson for us.
Is this meeting important?
Learning English is important.
He made an important decision.
The most important thing is health.
They had an important talk.
It is important that you arrive on time.
She plays an important role in the project.
This discovery is important for science.
He is an important figure in politics.
Don't forget the important details.
It is important to keep an open mind.
The environment is an important issue.
They discussed important changes.
It is of utmost importance that we succeed.
The data provides important insights.
This is an important milestone in our career.
She holds an important position at the firm.
He is an important influence on my work.
The context is important for understanding.
Important factors were ignored.
It is important to weigh all options.
The candidate stressed the important implications of the policy.
It is important to distinguish between correlation and causation.
The research makes an important contribution to the field.
His work is of paramount importance to the industry.
She played an important part in the negotiations.
The findings have important ramifications for the future.
Important nuances were lost in translation.
He is an important voice in the debate.
The document is of historical importance.
Such details are of no important consequence.
The important thing is to remain objective.
He occupies an important niche in the market.
This is an important departure from tradition.
The important question remains unanswered.
Important shifts in public opinion occurred.
It is an important testament to his skill.
동의어
반의어
자주 쓰는 조합
Idioms & Expressions
"a big deal"
something important
Don't worry, it's not a big deal.
casual"carry weight"
to be important/influential
His opinion carries a lot of weight.
neutral"of the utmost importance"
extremely important
This is of the utmost importance.
formal"the bottom line"
the most important fact
The bottom line is we need more money.
neutral"matter of life and death"
extremely important/urgent
It's not a matter of life and death.
idiomatic"high priority"
very important task
This project is a high priority.
businessEasily Confused
They are synonyms.
Significant implies a measurable impact; important is more general.
A significant change vs. an important day.
Both imply necessity.
Essential means it cannot be done without; important means it matters.
Water is essential; sleep is important.
Both mean high priority.
Vital is often used for life-sustaining things.
Vital signs vs. important meeting.
Both imply scale.
Major refers to size or scope; important refers to value.
A major city vs. an important decision.
Sentence Patterns
It is important that + clause
It is important that you listen.
It is important to + verb
It is important to be kind.
The important thing is + noun
The important thing is honesty.
Subject + is + important + to + noun
This is important to the team.
Most important of all + comma
Most important of all, be safe.
어휘 가족
Nouns
Adjectives
관련
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
자주 하는 실수
Important is not a short adjective, so we use 'most' for superlatives.
Adjectives cannot be the subject of a sentence.
Use the subjunctive mood after 'important that'.
Countable nouns need an article.
Formal grammar prefers the subject pronoun after comparisons.
Tips
Memory Palace
Put an 'important' object in every room of your house.
Native Speaker Tip
Use 'crucial' when you want to sound more professional.
Cultural Insight
In business, 'important' is used to set the agenda.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember: Important + to + verb.
Say It Right
Don't swallow the 't' in the middle.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use 'more importantest'.
Did You Know?
It comes from the Latin for 'bringing into port'.
Study Smart
Write 5 sentences about your daily goals using 'important'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
IM-PORT-ANT: I'm carrying a PORT (harbor) of ANT-sized items that are very important.
Visual Association
A large, heavy anchor being dropped into a harbor.
Word Web
챌린지
List 3 things that are important to you today.
어원
Latin
Original meaning: To bring in (goods/meaning)
문화적 맥락
None, universally positive.
Used frequently in business and academic settings to show professional respect.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- Important meeting
- Important deadline
- Important task
At school
- Important lesson
- Important exam
- Important project
In relationships
- Important talk
- Important person
- Important memory
In news
- Important announcement
- Important update
- Important event
Conversation Starters
"What is the most important thing you learned today?"
"Why is it important to learn English?"
"Who is an important person in your life?"
"What is an important decision you made recently?"
"Why is health important to you?"
Journal Prompts
Write about an important day in your childhood.
List three important goals for this year.
Describe an important lesson you learned from a mistake.
Why is it important to have hobbies?
자주 묻는 질문
8 질문No, it is an adjective. The adverb is importantly.
Yes, it is very common.
No, adjectives do not have plurals in English.
Unimportant or trivial.
Subject + is + important + to + verb.
It is neutral and works in all settings.
Yes, an important person is someone influential.
Yes, importance.
셀프 테스트
Water is ___ for life.
Water is necessary for survival.
Which word means the same as important?
Significant is a synonym.
Is 'important' a verb?
It is an adjective.
Word
뜻
Matching synonyms and antonyms.
Standard structure.
점수: /5
Summary
When you call something important, you are saying it truly matters.
- Important means having great value or significance.
- It is a versatile adjective used in all contexts.
- Commonly paired with 'very' or 'most'.
- Its noun form is 'importance'.
Memory Palace
Put an 'important' object in every room of your house.
Native Speaker Tip
Use 'crucial' when you want to sound more professional.
Cultural Insight
In business, 'important' is used to set the agenda.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember: Important + to + verb.
예시
It's important to exercise regularly.
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