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Important

adj. thoughtful, capable everyday

What it means

Having enough value or consequence to deserve particular attention.

Reach for it when identifying what materially affects a person, decision, or outcome

The interviews revealed an important barrier that the survey had missed.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
everyday
  • Important (this word)
  • key
warm
professional
formal

  • everyday

    key

    Fits when concise language should identify a central contributor

    Careful Key is vague resume shorthand unless the exact role is also stated.

  • warm

    cherished

    Fits when importance comes from affection and personal history

    Careful Cherished is wrong for an urgent technical risk or strategic priority.

  • warm

    meaningful

    Fits when personal value, purpose, or emotional substance is central

    Careful Meaningful does not always affect decisions or outcomes.

  • professional

    essential

    Fits when the thing is required for success or completeness

    Careful Essential is stronger than important; failure must follow from its absence.

  • professional

    influential

    Fits when a person or factor changes what others think or do

    Careful Influence is one kind of importance and should not replace value or necessity.

  • professional

    significant

    Fits when the effect or meaning is large enough to matter analytically

    Careful Significant can imply statistical testing, and it does not necessarily mean personally valued.

  • formal

    consequential

    Fits when the choice will produce substantial results or effects

    Careful It can sound ominous and is too heavy for affectionate personal value.

  • formal

    notable

    Fits when the fact deserves mention because it stands out

    Careful Something notable may be curious rather than consequential.

Opposites 3

  • trivial
  • insignificant
  • irrelevant

Common phrases 3

  • important decision

    The move is an important decision, so each family member will have time to respond.

  • important role

    Volunteers played an important role in keeping the library accessible.

  • deeply important

    The river remains deeply important to the community's identity.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated