Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

importance

/ɪmˈpoːtəns/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.56 in modern English

Syllables: im-por-tance
IPA: /ɪmˈpoːtəns/

16

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The quality or condition of being important or worthy of note.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

significance or prominence.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

personal status or standing.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Something of importance.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"The recording speed is also of importance in detecting flutters of high frequency."
"It was incessant matter for amazement how these Olympians would talk over our heads - during meals, for instance - of this or the other social or political inanity, under the delusion that these pale phantasms of reality were among the importances of life."

Etymology

From Middle English importaunce, from Middle French importance, from Medieval Latin importantia. By surface analysis, import (“to be important”) + -ance.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: importaunce, importance, importantia

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪmˈpoːtəns/
British English: /ɪmˈpɔːtəns/

Usage

Inflected Forms

importances (plural)

Derived Forms

nonimportance unimportance

Phrases

place importance on self-importance

Synonyms

substance grandness

Questions

How do you pronounce importance?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪmˈpoːtəns/.
What does importance mean?: The quality or condition of being important or worthy of note.
Where does importance come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce importance

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “importance”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪmˈpoːtəns/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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