significance
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the quality of being important or having a big effect on the future.
the quality of being worthy of attention; importance or consequence.
Simple“Scientists are still trying to understand the full significance of this new discovery.”
In context“The historical significance of the treaty cannot be overstated, as it fundamentally redrew the borders of Eastern Europe for the next century.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of' as in 'the significance of the event'.
SynonymsAntonymsinsignificancetriviality - 02 C1 Advanced
the special or hidden meaning of something, like a look or a word.
the meaning or import of something, especially when it is not immediately obvious.
Simple“She gave him a look full of significance, but he didn't understand it.”
In context“The poet uses the recurring image of the raven to convey a deeper significance regarding the nature of grief and memory.”
UsageCommonly used to describe the 'hidden' meaning behind a gesture or symbol.
Usage approach significance · assess significance · considerable significance
“While some of these initiatives had political significance, many struggled to translate their objectives into tangible results on the ground,” he said.”
“But for scientists studying the AMOC today, the real significance of the Younger Dryas is what it reveals about the Atlantic.”
Inherited from Middle English significaunce, from Middle French significance, from Old French significance, from Latin significantia. Doublet of signifiance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.