/ ɪmˈpɔːtns; NAmE -ˈpɔːrt-/ noun
[ U ] the quality of being important :
She stressed the importance of careful preparation.
It's a matter of the greatest importance to me.
They attach great importance to the project
the relative importance of the two ideas
State your reasons in order of importance .
He was very aware of his own importance (= of his status) .
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: from French , from medieval Latin importantia , from important- being of consequence, from the verb importare bring in (in medieval Latin imply, mean, be of consequence), from in- in + portare carry.