1
general::
important
having a big effect on people’s lives or on events in the future:
• an important decision • Good qualifications are increasingly important.
big
important or serious:
• It’s a big decision. • a big problem
significant
important enough to be noticeable or have a big effect:
• There is no significant difference between the performance of male and female students. • The Internet has brought about significant changes in people’s lives.
noteworthy
formal important or interesting enough to deserve your attention:
• The castle is the island’s most noteworthy feature. • The jury’s verdict was noteworthy for a number of reasons.
very important
essential
very important, especially for the success, health, or safety of someone or something:
• It is essential to speak the local language. • essential supplies of food and clothing
vital/crucial
extremely important, because without it there could be serious problems:
• His evidence was vital to the case. • The US plays a crucial role in the region. • The media are a vital part of the political system.
key
extremely important and having a big effect:
• Wheeler had a key role in the development of the atom bomb. • Timing is key.
of great/considerable importance
very important:
• In the construction industry, health and safety are of considerable importance.
momentous
very important because it has a very great effect on the future:
• Momentous events were taking place in Russia. • a momentous decision
most important
main/chief/principal
[ only before noun ] most important:
• What was your main aim? • the principal reason for their decision • the chief cause of the recession
major
[ usually before noun ] one of the most important or serious things:
• Smoking is a major cause of heart disease. • Street crime is a major problem.
central/primary
[ usually before noun ] most important – used especially when talking about the main thing that people are discussing, worried about, or trying to do:
• Education will be the central issue in the election. • Our primary concern is passenger safety.
paramount
formal more important than anything else, so that you must consider it when deciding what to do:
• Airport security is of paramount importance. • The needs of the students are paramount.
Longman-Thesaurus
2
general::
adj. VERBS be, seem | become | remain | make sth This is what makes our work so important. | believe sth, consider sth, deem sth, regard sth as, see sth as, think sth These ideas are considered enormously important. ADV. critically, crucially, enormously, especially, extremely, hugely, most, particularly, really, terribly, very, vitally This is most important: you must deliver the letter to Johnson himself. | increasingly | doubly | fairly, quite | equally These two factors are equally important. | internationally, regionally an internationally important site for these rare birds | economically, functionally, historically, politically, strategically historically important buildings PREP. for It's important for you to understand this. | to Spending time with my children is important to me. The work of the intelligence services was crucially important to victory in the war.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary