crucial

adjective

cru·​cial ˈkrü-shəl 

1

a

: important, significant

… what use we make of them will be the crucial question.

—Stanley Kubrick

Vitamins are crucial for maintaining good health.

b

: important or essential as resolving a crisis : decisive

She played a crucial role in the negotiations.

c

: marked by final determination of a doubtful issue

the crucial game of a series

2

archaic : cruciform

Synonyms

• critical
• key
• pivotal
• vital

Choose the Right Synonym for crucial

acute, critical, crucial mean of uncertain outcome.

acute stresses intensification of conditions leading to a culmination or breaking point.

an acute housing shortage

critical adds to acute implications of imminent change, of attendant suspense, and of decisiveness in the outcome.

the war has entered a critical phase

crucial suggests a dividing of the ways and often a test or trial involving the determination of a future course or direction.

a crucial vote

Examples of crucial in a Sentence

Vitamins are crucial for maintaining good health.

It's crucial that we arrive before 8 o'clock.

Teachers are crucial to the success of the school.

She played a crucial role in the meeting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Solving a key pain point for or with a colleague early on can be a powerful way to build these crucial relationships. —Andrew Block, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

In the case of the disaster that is now unfolding, the unusually dry conditions played a crucial role in setting the stage for extreme wildfires; a similarly powerful windstorm in Pasadena in December 2011 was preceded by a damp November, helping to prevent any significant fires. —Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025

Bencic is adapting to playing on less sleep, such a crucial thing for any athlete, but is grateful that Bella generally has pretty uninterrupted nights. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025

Nitro Motorsports' collaboration with Venturini Motorsports, an experienced and successful ARCA team, is expected to provide crucial resources and expertise. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin cruc-, crux cross

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

crucial

adjective

cru·​cial ˈkrü-shəl 

1

: being a final or very important test or decision : decisive

the crucial game of a series

2

: very important : significant

water is a crucial element in our weather

crucially

ˈkrüsh-(ə-)lē

adverb

Etymology

from French crucial "having the form of a cross, being or involving a crisis," from Latin cruc-, crux "cross, trouble, torture" — related to cross, crucify, crux