all-important

adjective

all-im·​por·​tant ˌȯl-im-ˈpȯr-tᵊnt 

-tənt

: of very great or greatest importance

an all-important question

Synonyms

• critical
• essential
• imperative
• indispensable
• integral
• must-have
• necessary
• necessitous
• needed
• needful
• required
• requisite
• vital

Examples of all-important in a Sentence

that all-important item for a successful birthday party: a fancily decorated cake with candles

Recent Examples on the Web

Not only have price increases slowed, but some costs have even fallen, including the all-important price of gasoline. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024

And of course there are the all-important inner and outer suburbs, where there are many college plus Republican women. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

The book’s September release, just two months ahead of the all-important (and all-too-close) 2024 Presidential Election, was not exactly coincidence. —Gabby Shacknai, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Editor’s Note: China Insight is a monthly column from WWD’s sister publication WWD China analyzing developments in that all-important market. —Li Jun, WWD, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

all-important

adjective

all-im·​por·​tant

ˌȯ-lim-ˈpȯrt-ᵊnt,

-ənt

: of very great importance

an all-important question