Standard Lemma guide

importunate

adj · noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɪmˈpɔːtjʊnət/
  • General-American: /ɪmˈpɔɹt͡ʃənət/
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɪmˈpɔːtjuːneɪt/
  • US: /ɪmˈpɔɹtjuːneɪt/

1

adj

Meaning 1

Persistent or pressing, often annoyingly so.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Given to importunate demands, greedily or thoughtlessly demanding.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An importuner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To importune, or to obtain by importunity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

expressing earnest entreaty

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • an importunate job applicant

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

First attested in 1477, in Middle english; from Latin importūnus + -ate (adjective-forming suffix), modelled on Middle French importuné. By surface analysis, importune + -ate. The noun was substantivized from the adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).

First attested in 1574; adapted borrowing of French importuner (“to bother, disturb”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: настойчив (nastojčiv) — of a demand, persistent or pressing
  • Bulgarian: упорит (uporit) — of a demand, persistent or pressing
  • Catalan: importú — of a demand, persistent or pressing
  • Finnish: itsepintainen — of a demand, persistent or pressing
  • Finnish: hellittämätön — of a demand, persistent or pressing
  • Macedonian: у́порен (úporen) — of a demand, persistent or pressing
  • Macedonian: на́стојчив (nástojčiv) — of a demand, persistent or pressing
  • Māori: mānene — of a demand, persistent or pressing
  • Māori: unene — of a demand, persistent or pressing
  • Russian: настойчивый (nastojčivyj) — of a demand, persistent or pressing
  • Scottish Gaelic: liosta — of a demand, persistent or pressing
  • Bulgarian: досаден (dosaden) — of a person
  • Bulgarian: натрапчив (natrapčiv) — of a person
  • Catalan: importú — of a person
  • Finnish: vaativainen — of a person
  • Irish: achainíoch — of a person
  • Macedonian: на́траплив (nátrapliv) — of a person
  • Macedonian: на́метлив (námetliv) — of a person
  • Māori: tōwenewene — of a person
  • Portuguese: importunar — to obtain by importunity