Import Also Means Significance
To import is to bring goods in. The noun also means importance, from the sense of what something carries with it.
To import is to bring goods into a country. A second noun sense is easy to miss: *import* also means significance, as in a matter of great import. Both come from Latin *importare*, to carry in — goods carried into a country, and meaning carried into a statement. *Important* comes from the same source.
- To bring goods in. *Import raw materials.*
- An imported product. *Imports rose.*
- Significance. *A matter of some import.*
- To load data. *Import the file.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | import | Import from abroad. |
| Noun | import | Rising imports. |
| Adjective | important | An important point. |
| Noun | importance | Great importance. |
| Opposite | export | Export markets. |
How it is used in a sentence
- A matter of great import.Significance.
- Imports exceeded exports.A trade deficit.
- Import the spreadsheet.Computing.
Trade terms
- Trade deficit — imports exceed exports
- Trade surplus — the reverse
- Tariff — a tax on imported goods
- Quota — a limit on quantity imported
- Balance of trade — the difference between the two flows
From Latin *importare*, to bring in, from *in* and *portare*, to carry. The sense of significance developed from what a statement carries.
Are import and important related?
Yes. Both come from the idea of carrying something in. An important matter carries weight with it.
Where is the stress?
IM-port for the noun, im-PORT for the verb, following the standard English pattern.