import

A product brought from another country, usually to be sold.

• This car is an import.
• Cheap imports made local products harder to sell.
• The shop stocks imports from several countries.

How to use it: import from somewhere (This cheese is an import from France.)

Similar words: imported product, imported goods

Opposites: export

Common phrases: cheap import, foreign import, Japanese import

The activity of bringing goods from another country, usually for sale.

• These goods are subject to import duty.
• The government restricted the import of beef.
• Her business handles both import and export.

How to use it: import of something (The import of certain foods is restricted.)

Similar words: importation

Opposites: export

Common phrases: import duty, import restrictions, import of goods

To bring goods from another country into your own, usually to sell them.

• We import most of our coffee.
• The company imported machinery from Germany.
• Which countries import the most oil?

How to use it: import something from somewhere (We import coffee from Brazil.); import something into somewhere (The company imports cars into Canada.)

Similar words: bring in

Opposites: export

Common phrases: import goods, import oil, import from somewhere

To bring a file or data from another program or system into the program you are using.

• Click here to import photos.
• I imported the file into a new program.
• Can this app import contacts from my phone?

How to use it: import something into something (Import the data into your spreadsheet.); import something from something (You can import contacts from another account.)

Similar words: load, bring in

Opposites: export

Common phrases: import files, import data, import photos