Question
Updated on
5 December
- Japanese
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English (US)
Question about English (US)
What is the difference between important and significant ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
What is the difference between important and significant ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
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5 December
Featured answer
- English (US)
"Important" means that something has relevance to something else, or needs to be considered for some reason, or has a lot of influence on other things.
"Significant" means that something is noteworthy or stands out from other things in some way (there is something that makes it obviously different or more prominent than everything else, or clearly different than normal).
"That is a significant rock formation" ⟶ It is not like other rock formations for some reason.
"That is an important rock formation" ⟶ It is a rock formation that affects other things in some way (if it did not exist, other things would be different too).
"There was a significant change in her behavior" ⟶ Her behavior changed in a noticeable or unusually large way.
"There was an important change in her behavior" ⟶ Her behavior changed in a way that provided valuable information, or had an impact on other events, etc.
(Things that are significant are also often important, and things that are important are also often significant, but they technically describe two different concepts.)
Note: These are definitions related to everyday usage. When talking in scientific contexts, "significant" actually has a different, precise meaning related to statistics, and should not be used unless you actually mean the mathematical concept of "statistical significance".
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AI_monga
「important」と「significant」の違いを説明します。
まず、「important」は、何かが重要であることを表します。その物事が他のことにとって重要であるという意味です。例えば、仕事のプロジェクトで重要な会議があるとき、「important meeting(重要な会議)」と言います。
一方、「significant」は、何かが重要であるだけでなく、影響力や意義があることを表します。その物事が大きな影響を持ち、重要な意味を持つというニュアンスがあります。例えば、歴史的な出来事が「significant event(重要な出来事)」と言われるように、その出来事が大きな影響を与えたり、重要な意味を持っていることを示します。
つまり、「important」は単に重要であることを表し、「significant」はその重要性に加えて、影響力や意味があることを示します。
まず、「important」は、何かが重要であることを表します。その物事が他のことにとって重要であるという意味です。例えば、仕事のプロジェクトで重要な会議があるとき、「important meeting(重要な会議)」と言います。
一方、「significant」は、何かが重要であるだけでなく、影響力や意義があることを表します。その物事が大きな影響を持ち、重要な意味を持つというニュアンスがあります。例えば、歴史的な出来事が「significant event(重要な出来事)」と言われるように、その出来事が大きな影響を与えたり、重要な意味を持っていることを示します。
つまり、「important」は単に重要であることを表し、「significant」はその重要性に加えて、影響力や意味があることを示します。
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- English (US)
Both can mean influential, though important can also mean higher priority for something such as a task depending on the context.
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- English (US)
@poohpig
Definitions:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sign...
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impo...
Crashing your car at 50 miles per hour will cause significant and extensive damage to you and your car.
Parents have a significant impact on their children.
War causes significant trauma to those who survive it.
The importance/significance of the Apollo 13 mission cannot be understated.
College will be one of the most important and significant times of your life.
The pyramids of Egypt are a crucial, important, and significant part of Egyptian history.
It is important to study for your tests so that you have a better chance of getting a good grade.
Failing one assignment will not significantly affect your grade, but an exam will.
Donald Trump is a very important/significant man because of his power, popularity, influence, and status as the President of the United States.
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- English (US)
"Important" means that something has relevance to something else, or needs to be considered for some reason, or has a lot of influence on other things.
"Significant" means that something is noteworthy or stands out from other things in some way (there is something that makes it obviously different or more prominent than everything else, or clearly different than normal).
"That is a significant rock formation" ⟶ It is not like other rock formations for some reason.
"That is an important rock formation" ⟶ It is a rock formation that affects other things in some way (if it did not exist, other things would be different too).
"There was a significant change in her behavior" ⟶ Her behavior changed in a noticeable or unusually large way.
"There was an important change in her behavior" ⟶ Her behavior changed in a way that provided valuable information, or had an impact on other events, etc.
(Things that are significant are also often important, and things that are important are also often significant, but they technically describe two different concepts.)
Note: These are definitions related to everyday usage. When talking in scientific contexts, "significant" actually has a different, precise meaning related to statistics, and should not be used unless you actually mean the mathematical concept of "statistical significance".
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- English (US)
"Important" and "significant" are often used interchangeably, but there’s a subtle difference:
Important: Refers to something that has great value, impact, or relevance, often in a practical or personal sense.
Example: "It’s important to follow safety guidelines at work."
Significant: Refers to something that has a deeper or more noteworthy impact, often in a broader, more objective context.
Example: "The discovery of penicillin was a significant advancement in medicine."
In short, "important" is more general, while "significant" tends to imply a more profound or historically relevant impact.
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