importantly

importantly

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "importantly" is /ɪmˈpɔːtəntli/.

• im- /ɪm/

• por- /pɔːr/ (or /pɔː/)

• tant- /tənt/

• ly /li/

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Word Form Variations

"Importantly" is an adverb, and like most adverbs ending in -ly, it does not have variations for singular, plural, or different tenses in the way that nouns and verbs do.

However, its root and related words have the following common forms:

• Noun: Import, Importance (e.g., The importance of the decision.)

• Adjective: Important (e.g., An important meeting.)

• Verb: Import (e.g., To import goods.)

• Adverb: Importantly, Self-importantly (e.g., He spoke importantly.)

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Adverb: Importantly

Definition 1: In a Significant Manner

Used to describe an action or state that is carried out with a high degree of consequence, weight, or seriousness.

• Synonyms: significantly, vitally, materially, critically

• Antonyms: trivially, incidentally, marginally, carelessly

Definition 2: As a Sentence Modifier

Used to introduce a point that is of greater, equal, or central relevance to the discussion or argument being presented.

• Synonyms: crucially, most of all, fundamentally, above all

• Antonyms: secondarily, incidentally, least of all, unimportantly

Definition 3: With an Air of Self-Importance

Describing a way of acting or speaking that suggests an exaggerated sense of one's own influence, authority, or status.

• Synonyms: pompously, self-importantly, grandly, haughtily

• Antonyms: humbly, modestly, unassumingly, demurely

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Examples of Use

📰 News and Online Publications

Examples from journalistic and digital sources often use "importantly" to signpost the main takeaway or most critical piece of evidence.

• "The drug showed efficacy in two separate trials and, importantly, did not produce the severe side effects that halted previous research." (Health & Science Report, February 2023)

• "Bumper-to-bumper traffic destroys the function of the shared resource as an efficient pathway for daily transportation. And more importantly, individual cars deposit fumes that harm the atmosphere, contributing to large-scale societal problems." (Online Editorial, July 2025)

• "The new corporate strategy will streamline operations and, perhaps most importantly, reinvest a larger portion of profits into research and development." (Business News, May 2024)

• "The effectiveness of several COVID-19 mRNA vaccines was estimated at the population level in 'real-world' settings by analyzing Electronic Health Records. Importantly, this example illustrates a scenario where Real-World Evidence (RWE) can provide answers to scientific questions that might not otherwise be available from Clinical Trials (CTs)." (Research Publication, February 2023)

📚 Books and Literature

In literature and non-fiction, "importantly" is used by the author to pivot to a central theme or idea.

• "More importantly, I began to know Blackburn, the great-hearted, humane, tragicomical sufferer who dwelt behind the hulking and lugubrious facade." (William Styron, This Quiet Dust: And Other Writings, 1953)

• "The first step in critical analysis is to review the evidence; the second is to organize it into a coherent argument; and most importantly, the third is to present a final conclusion that advances the discussion." (Academic Text on Rhetoric)

• "Many writers have this approach without having had to study psychology at all... Literature, most of all the novel, teaches us empathy and appeals to our empathy." (Olga Tokarczuk, Nobel Prize Interview, February 2024)

🎬 Entertainment Media and Platforms

In reviews, documentaries, and analyses of entertainment, the word highlights a key aspect of the work or its impact.

• "The film succeeds not only because of its groundbreaking special effects but, more importantly, because of the powerful emotional core of the lead performance." (Film Review, December 2024)

• "Distributors will aim to package related Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) services with linear offerings to deliver a next-generation bundle of streaming and traditional broadcast and cable network content. More importantly, Pay TV consumers who also stream will benefit by not having to pay for the same content twice." (Industry Trend Report, 2024)

• "The core of this new video game lies in its open-world design, its unique combat system, and, importantly, its surprisingly deep and character-driven narrative." (Video Game Streaming Review)

🗣️ General Public Discourse

In speeches, debates, and everyday conversation, the word structures an argument to emphasize the final or governing point.

• "We must address rising costs, we must improve infrastructure, and importantly, we must ensure that these changes benefit everyone, not just a select few." (Political Speech)

• "I check the list twice: did I lock the doors, did I turn off the stove, and, most importantly, did I remember my keys?" (Everyday Conversation)

• "Public Discourse seeks to engage not only those who disagree, but, just as importantly, those who do agree, in the common project of a public conversation about our days’ most pressing issues." (Online Public Forum, October 2009)

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10 Quotes Using Importantly

1. "You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something." (Neil Gaiman, Commencement Speech, May 2012)

2. "And most importantly, be kind to others, even if you don't like them." (Stacy London)

3. "No matter who we are or what we look like or what we may believe, it is both possible and, more importantly, it becomes powerful to come together in common purpose and common effort." (Oprah Winfrey)

4. "History tells them where they are but, more importantly, what they must be." (John Henrik Clarke)

5. "Most importantly, he must work with integrity." (A. P. J. Abdul Kalam)

6. "More importantly, this system must be grounded in the fundamental premise that all people are innocent until proven guilty and that all of us deserve a fair second chance." (Laphonza Butler)

7. "We have to look at alternative technologies of cars such as biofuels or, even more importantly, electric cars." (Fatih Birol)

8. "Most importantly, this is the level of government where we uniquely are in the position to earn the trust of our communities." (Michelle Wu)

9. "Authenticity matters; and, most importantly, the truth matters." (Trish Regan)

10. "More importantly, wrestling is my greatest release." (Eddie Guerrero)

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Etymology

The word "importantly" is straightforward because it is built directly from a familiar root.

Simple Explanation

In easy-to-understand terms, "importantly" just means "in an important way." We form it by taking the adjective "important" and simply adding the adverb suffix -ly.

Detailed Breakdown

1. The Adverb Suffix (-ly):

• The suffix -ly is added to adjectives in English (like quick, gentle, or important) to transform them into adverbs. This tells you that the word describes how an action is performed or modifies an entire statement.

2. The Root Adjective (Important):

• The adjective "important" came into English in the 15th century. It originated from the Middle French word important.

3. The Core Verb Root (Import):

• The French word important is the present participle of the Old French verb importer, which meant "to be of consequence" or "to signify."

• This French verb itself came from the Latin verb importāre. While today we often think of import as bringing goods into a country (from Latin in- meaning 'in' and portāre meaning 'to carry'), the sense of "to be of consequence" or "to matter" evolved directly from the Latin meaning of 'to bring in' or 'to convey' an idea or significance.

First Known Use and Meaning

• The adverb "importantly" followed the adjective, with its first known use documented around the early 17th century (circa 1605).

• Its initial meaning was exactly what it is today: "in a manner or degree that is important; significantly."

So, the word has remained faithful to its origins: it is a way to state that something is being done, or is being presented, with great weight or significance.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Importantly

Direct Phrases with "Importantly"

These are common phrases where "importantly" acts as a sentence modifier, adding weight to a statement:

1. More importantly: Used to introduce a point that is of greater significance than the preceding one.

2. Most importantly: Used to introduce the single, most crucial point or factor in a discussion or list.

3. Equally importantly: Used to stress that the next point carries the same weight or consequence as the previous one.

4. Just as importantly: Functionally the same as "equally importantly," emphasizing balance in significance.

5. Importantly, the data shows...: A common construction where the word modifies the entire subsequent clause, highlighting its critical nature.

Idioms Using Related Words (Synonyms/Adjective "Important")

These phrases and idioms achieve a similar rhetorical effect of emphasizing significance:

1. A matter of consequence: A situation or event that has serious results or is of great importance.

2. The bottom line: The most essential or most important fact; the conclusive result.

3. The be-all and end-all: The most important aspect; the ultimate purpose or object.

4. Cut to the chase: To get to the main point or the important part without delay.

5. A big deal: Something considered very important or serious.

6. Tip the scales: To be the determining factor in a decision or situation (i.e., the important influence).

7. The gist of the matter: The central or important meaning of a speech or text.

8. Carry weight: To have great influence or importance.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of importantly from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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