cobrar importancia
verbCEFR B2
What does “cobrar importancia” mean in English?
to gain importance, to become increasingly significant
to gain importance, to become increasingly significant (cobrar = acquire; formal collocation)
Example sentences
La ética de la inteligencia artificial ha cobrado una importancia enorme en los últimos años.
AI ethics has gained enormous importance in recent years.
Este tipo de acuerdos cobra especial importancia en un contexto de inestabilidad geopolítica.
This type of agreement gains particular importance in a context of geopolitical instability.
A medida que la tecnología avanza, la formación continua cobra más importancia.
As technology advances, continuous training gains more importance.
How to use it
Cobrar importancia means 'to gain importance', 'to become increasingly significant'. It is a formal collocation used to describe a rising trend or growing relevance. Construction: cobrar importancia (intransitive, subject = thing gaining importance): 'cobra importancia en el contexto de…'. Note: cobrar here means 'to acquire/gain' (like cobrar fuerza, cobrar vida), not 'to earn money'. Contrast with estar en boga (at peak fashionability) and cobrar fuerza (gaining momentum/strength).
Common mistake
Cobrar here is 'to acquire', not 'to charge/earn money'. The collocation is: cobrar + noun (importancia, fuerza, relevancia, vida). Don't confuse with ganar importancia (also correct but more everyday). Cobrar importancia is preferred in formal writing. The indirect object with 'gain importance FOR someone' doesn't translate directly: use ser cada vez más importante para.