import
In a commercial sense, this word describes the physical movement of goods across borders, often carrying connotations of trade balance and economic dependency. It is the direct counterpart to exporting.
When used to describe meaning or significance, the word shifts to a highly formal or literary register. In this context, it refers to the deeper, often hidden weight of a statement rather than its literal surface meaning.
Meanings
To bring goods or services into a country from abroad for sale.
The company imports high-quality silk from China.
To bring data or a file from one program or format into another.
You can import your contacts from a CSV file into the address book.
The action of bringing goods or services into a country from abroad.
The government is trying to reduce the import of luxury cars.
Examples
The boutique imports handmade jewelry from Italy.
You can import the settings into the new software.
The new law restricts the import of foreign steel.
The nation depends on oil imports for its energy.
He failed to grasp the full import of the warning.
Phrasal Verbs
import into
to transfer data or files from one system or format into another
She needed to import the customer list into the new CRM software.