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adj. 1. Strongly affecting the course of events or the nature of things; significant: an important message that must get through; close friends who are important to me. 2. Having high social rank or influence; prominent: government leaders and other important people. 3. Having or suggesting a consciousness of high position or authority; authoritative: recited the decree with an important air. 4. Obsolete Importunate. [Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin importāns, important-, present participle of importāre, to mean, from Latin, to import; see IMPORT.] im·portant·ly adv. |
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