50 Idioms for Important with Meanings & Sentences
Idioms for Important
1. Big deal
Meaning: Something of great importance.
In a Sentence: Getting accepted into Harvard was a big deal for her.
Other Ways to Say: Major event, huge accomplishment
2. Heavyweight issue
Meaning: A matter of serious importance.
In a Sentence: Climate change is a heavyweight issue that can’t be ignored.
Other Ways to Say: Serious matter, critical topic
3. A matter of life and death
Meaning: Extremely important or urgent.
In a Sentence: Getting clean water in the village is a matter of life and death.
Other Ways to Say: Vital, urgent concern
4. High on the agenda
Meaning: Considered a top priority.
In a Sentence: Security is high on the agenda for this year’s summit.
Other Ways to Say: Top priority, main focus
5. Crucial moment
Meaning: A critical or decisive point in time.
In a Sentence: The crucial moment in the game was when she scored the winning goal.
Other Ways to Say: Pivotal moment, decisive point
6. Turning point
Meaning: A moment when a significant change occurs.
In a Sentence: The invention of the internet was a turning point in communication.
Other Ways to Say: Game changer, critical moment
7. The heart of the matter
Meaning: The most important point or issue.
In a Sentence: Let’s not beat around the bush—get to the heart of the matter.
Other Ways to Say: The core, main issue
8. Key player
Meaning: Someone or something essential in a situation.
In a Sentence: He’s a key player in the success of our company.
Other Ways to Say: Crucial member, main contributor
9. Hold the key
Meaning: To be essential to solving a problem or achieving something.
In a Sentence: Education holds the key to a better future.
Other Ways to Say: Be the solution, be essential
10. Carry weight
Meaning: To have importance or influence.
In a Sentence: Her opinion carries weight in the boardroom.
Other Ways to Say: Be influential, matter a lot
11. Make a difference
Meaning: To have a significant impact.
In a Sentence: Donating to the charity really makes a difference.
Other Ways to Say: Be impactful, bring change
12. Game changer
Meaning: Something that significantly alters a situation.
In a Sentence: Smartphones were a game changer in technology.
Other Ways to Say: Revolutionary idea, major shift
13. Top of the list
Meaning: Most important among many.
In a Sentence: Her safety is always at the top of the list.
Other Ways to Say: Highest priority, primary concern
14. At the forefront
Meaning: Leading or in a very important position.
In a Sentence: This company is at the forefront of innovation.
Other Ways to Say: Leading, taking charge
15. Put on a pedestal
Meaning: To treat something or someone as highly important.
In a Sentence: Society often puts celebrities on a pedestal.
Other Ways to Say: Idolize, highly value
16. Make or break
Meaning: Something that will determine success or failure.
In a Sentence: This deal is a make-or-break situation for the company.
Other Ways to Say: Deciding factor, critical decision
17. Center stage
Meaning: The main focus or attention.
In a Sentence: Environmental concerns took center stage at the conference.
Other Ways to Say: Main focus, highlight
18. Weigh in
Meaning: To give an important opinion or decision.
In a Sentence: The manager weighed in with a final verdict.
Other Ways to Say: Contribute, influence the outcome
19. In the spotlight
Meaning: Receiving a lot of attention due to importance.
In a Sentence: The issue of mental health is finally in the spotlight.
Other Ways to Say: Highlighted, front and center
20. Red-letter day
Meaning: A very important or memorable day.
In a Sentence: The wedding was truly a red-letter day for the family.
Other Ways to Say: Special day, historic moment
21. Burning issue
Meaning: A problem that needs immediate attention.
In a Sentence: Poverty remains a burning issue in many countries.
Other Ways to Say: Urgent concern, pressing matter
22. The real deal
Meaning: Something genuine and important.
In a Sentence: Her leadership skills show she’s the real deal.
Other Ways to Say: Authentic, true value
23. Hold in high regard
Meaning: To consider something very important or respectable.
In a Sentence: The professor is held in high regard by all students.
Other Ways to Say: Admire, respect deeply
24. Take seriously
Meaning: To treat something with importance.
In a Sentence: You need to take this job opportunity seriously.
Other Ways to Say: Value, prioritize
25. Not to be taken lightly
Meaning: Something that is important and serious.
In a Sentence: His warning was not to be taken lightly.
Other Ways to Say: Serious matter, weighty issue
26. At stake
Meaning: In a position to be lost or gained.
In a Sentence: Our reputation is at stake in this deal.
Other Ways to Say: On the line, in jeopardy
27. Cut to the chase
Meaning: Focus on what’s important.
In a Sentence: We don’t have time—let’s cut to the chase.
Other Ways to Say: Get to the point, focus on essentials
28. Mean business
Meaning: To be serious or important about something.
In a Sentence: The boss looked like he meant business during the meeting.
Other Ways to Say: Be serious, be committed
29. The bigger picture
Meaning: The most important overall view or context.
In a Sentence: Let’s not forget the bigger picture when making decisions.
Other Ways to Say: Broader perspective, overall view
30. Golden opportunity
Meaning: A valuable and important chance.
In a Sentence: This job offer is a golden opportunity you shouldn’t miss.
Other Ways to Say: Rare chance, ideal moment
31. A linchpin
Meaning: The most important part of a system or process.
In a Sentence: She’s the linchpin of the marketing team.
Other Ways to Say: Core person, central figure
32. Top brass
Meaning: People in the most important positions.
In a Sentence: The top brass approved the new company policy.
Other Ways to Say: Executives, leadership team
33. All-important
Meaning: Extremely important.
In a Sentence: He forgot the all-important meeting with his boss.
Other Ways to Say: Essential, very critical
34. The last word
Meaning: The final and most important say.
In a Sentence: She always wants to have the last word in arguments.
Other Ways to Say: Final decision, ultimate authority
35. The bottom line
Meaning: The most important fact or result.
In a Sentence: The bottom line is that we need more funding.
Other Ways to Say: Key point, end result
36. Mission-critical
Meaning: Essential to the success of a mission or task.
In a Sentence: Data protection is mission-critical for our systems.
Other Ways to Say: Indispensable, vital
37. Put stock in
Meaning: To believe or consider something important.
In a Sentence: He puts a lot of stock in customer feedback.
Other Ways to Say: Value, rely on
38. Have clout
Meaning: Have influence or importance.
In a Sentence: The senator has clout in the finance committee.
Other Ways to Say: Have power, carry influence
39. Worth its weight in gold
Meaning: Very valuable or important.
In a Sentence: Her advice was worth its weight in gold.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely valuable, priceless
40. Of great consequence
Meaning: Highly significant or important.
In a Sentence: His actions are of great consequence to the project.
Other Ways to Say: Impactful, major effect
41. Be in the driver’s seat
Meaning: To be in control of something important.
In a Sentence: She’s in the driver’s seat of the marketing strategy.
Other Ways to Say: Take charge, be in control
42. Rule the roost
Meaning: To have the most important role in a group.
In a Sentence: It’s clear that she rules the roost at home.
Other Ways to Say: Dominate, lead
43. Call the shots
Meaning: To be the one making important decisions.
In a Sentence: In that team, Mike calls the shots.
Other Ways to Say: Be in command, lead
44. The key to success
Meaning: The most important factor for success.
In a Sentence: Discipline is the key to success in any field.
Other Ways to Say: Main factor, core principle
45. Make headlines
Meaning: To become an important topic in media or conversation.
In a Sentence: Her invention made headlines around the world.
Other Ways to Say: Be newsworthy, gain attention
46. All eyes on
Meaning: Everyone is paying attention to someone or something.
In a Sentence: All eyes were on the president during the announcement.
Other Ways to Say: Focused attention, center of interest
47. The main event
Meaning: The most important part of an occasion.
In a Sentence: The keynote speaker was the main event of the conference.
Other Ways to Say: Highlight, headline act
48. Front-burner issue
Meaning: Something that demands immediate attention.
In a Sentence: Economic inflation has become a front-burner issue.
Other Ways to Say: Top concern, urgent matter
49. In the limelight
Meaning: Receiving a lot of attention.
In a Sentence: The scientist was in the limelight after the breakthrough.
Other Ways to Say: Famous, under the spotlight
50. Have a say
Meaning: To have an important opinion or influence in decisions.
In a Sentence: Employees should have a say in workplace policies.
Other Ways to Say: Participate, be involved
