The following is a collection of alternative words for important, aimed to broaden your English vocabulary. The words are split into categories: simple and advanced. Get to know another word for Important!
The More Common Alternatives For Important
Essential
- “It is essential that he meets the deadline this week”.
- If something is essential, it is needed. It is essential that a car should have a steering wheel, for example.
Big
- “He has a big meeting today”.
- Relevant to size (a big man, for example) this word when applied to situations makes them important.
Major
- “Water is a major part of our planet”.
- Like big, this world can also relate to big size. A major in an army is an important person, and a major event is therefore an important event.
Vital
- “Hunting is a vital part of a lion’s life”.
- If something is vital, you cannot live without it. When applied to situations, it adds extreme importance.
Key
- “The key nurse during the war was Florence Nightingale”.
- Think of a key (noun) unlocking a door – this makes the key important. Apply it to people and situations, it means the same thing.
Main
- “The main man is the president”.
- If something is the main of anything, it stands out above everything else and is the most important. The main street of a town, for example, is the most important street.
Raising Your Game: Advanced Synonyms
Using these words in day-to-day life will surely impress. They all mean exactly the same as important, only not everyone uses them or knows what they mean.
Imperative
- “It is absolutely imperative that you awake before dawn”.
- If an order is imperative, it is a command – not an option to be debated with. An army command, for example, is imperative, and therefore cannot be ignored.
Paramount
- “Christianity is paramount in Europe”.
- Meaning to be above everything else. Think of a highest mountain – this mountain is paramount.
Momentous
- “WWII was a momentous occasion in history”.
- This word relates to things on a huge scale. A momentous moment can change everything and can be used in regards to negative things, like war, and positive things, like a celebration.
Salient
- “There were many salient moments before the election”.
- Relating to mathematics and the points of a triangle which stick out, when applied to anything else, this word makes things stand or stick out.
Chief
- “The chief command was a strange command”.
- Again, like major, this army-related word creates importance. A chief in an army is an important leader, and so when something is chief, it is above many other things in regards to importance.
Cardinal
- “Patience is a cardinal quality in being peaceful”.
- This word is related to the church – a cardinal (person) is an important figure within the church, and so when this person gives an order, the order becomes cardinal (adjective) and therefore important.