Significant vs That does not come lightly

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Significant

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 adjective

That does not come lightly

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Most common: Significant

	Significant	That does not come lightly
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/"]/	🇬🇧 //ðæt dʌz nɒt kʌm ˈlaɪtli// 🇺🇸 //ðæt dʌz nɑt kʌm ˈlaɪtli//
Meaning	Important or meaning a lot.	that is not easy to accept or understand
Example	The research showed a significant improvement in patient outcomes.	This decision is one that does not come lightly, considering the consequences.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR level	B2	-
Part of speech	adjective
Collocations	be, prove, become, extremely, fairly, very, for, to	decision that does not come lightly, consequences that do not come lightly
Antonyms	insignificant, trivial, minor	That comes easily, That is effortless, That happens frequently
Common mistakes	Confusing 'significant' with 'significance'., Using 'significant' as a noun instead of an adjective., Overusing 'significant' in casual speaking.	Using it in a trivial context., Confusing it with 'that comes easy'.
Usage notes	Used in academic and formal contexts to indicate importance. Avoid in very casual conversations; instead, use simpler words like 'big' or 'important'.	This phrase is often used when discussing decisions or consequences that are significant and not made without deep consideration. It can express empathy or seriousness, so avoid using it in casual or light-hearted contexts.

See it in real clips

But of all these anomalies, the most significant is this:

But what is significant is, I felt the touch of God.

But of all these anomalies, the most significant is this:

But what is significant is, I felt the touch of God.

Significant

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

That does not come lightly from that fella, I'll tell you that.

That does not come lightly

Frequently asked questions: Significant vs That does not come lightly

What's the difference between Significant and That does not come lightly?

Significant: Important or meaning a lot. That does not come lightly: that is not easy to accept or understand

Which is more common: Significant and That does not come lightly?

Significant is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Significant: The research showed a significant improvement in patient outcomes. That does not come lightly: This decision is one that does not come lightly, considering the consequences.

Can I use Significant and That does not come lightly interchangeably?

Not always. Significant and That does not come lightly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.