import
IHM-pawt
Import (noun) means a product or good brought into a country from abroad for sale. Example: “Tea is a major import in many countries with cold climates.”
noun
1
A product or good brought into a country from abroad for sale.
"Tea is a major import in many countries with cold climates."
"Imports of fresh fruit usually rise during the winter months."
"Cheap imports from overseas undercut local manufacturers."
verb
1
To bring goods into a country from abroad, especially for sale or trade.
"Many shops import furniture from factories overseas."
"We had to import the parts because nobody here makes them."
"The company imports coffee beans directly from Colombia."
2
To bring data or a file into a software program from another source.
"Click the button to import the photos from your phone."
"The program failed to import the spreadsheet because the file was damaged."
"You can import your contacts from a CSV file."
3
(formal) To be important or significant.
"It imports little whether we arrive early or late tomorrow."
"What imports most is that everyone gets home safely."
"It little imports what he thinks of the plan."
How to use import
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo bring something in from outside — whether goods from another country or data into a computer file.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
import goods
import duty
import a file
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Word forms
- Plural
- imports
- Third person singular
- imports
- Past tense
- imported
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Tea is a major _____ in many countries with cold climates.
Etymology
From Latin importo ("bring in from abroad"), from in- ("into") + porto ("to carry").
Synonyms
View more →
bring in
introduce
ship in
source
importation
spell
importancy
importance
meaning
purport
significance
tenor
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “import” mean?
The word “import” means a product or good brought into a country from abroad for sale. In plain terms, to bring something in from outside — whether goods from another country or data into a computer file.
How do you pronounce “import”?
“Import” is pronounced IHM-pawt (/ˈɪm.pɔɹt/ in IPA).
How do you use “import” in a sentence?
Here is “import” used in a sentence: “Cheap imports from overseas undercut local manufacturers.”
What is another word for “import”?
Words with a similar meaning to “import” include importancy, importance, meaning, purport, significance and tenor.
What is the opposite of “import”?
The opposite of “import” — its antonyms — are export and insignificance.
What part of speech is “import”?
Depending on how it is used, “import” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “import” come from?
The word “import” comes from Latin. From Latin importo ("bring in from abroad"), from in- ("into") + porto ("to carry").
Is “import” a common word?
“Import” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between an import and an export?
An import is a product or good brought into a country from abroad for sale, while an export is a good sent out of a country to be sold elsewhere. The two terms describe opposite directions of the same trade flow.
How does the pronunciation of import change between the noun and the verb?
As a noun meaning goods brought in, import is usually stressed on the first syllable (IM-port). As a verb meaning to bring goods in, the stress typically shifts to the second syllable (im-PORT).
When should you use import instead of buy?
Use import when the emphasis is on goods crossing a national border into a country from abroad, especially for sale or trade. Buy is a general term for any purchase and carries no sense of international movement.
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