crucial

[ kroo-shuhl ]

adjective

1. involving an extremely important decision or result; decisive; critical:

   a crucial experiment.

   Synonyms: significant, essential, vital, momentous

2. severe; trying.
3. of the form of a cross; cross-shaped.

crucial

/ ˈkruːʃəl /

adjective

1. involving a final or supremely important decision or event; decisive; critical
2. informal.
   very important
3. slang.
   very good

Derived Forms

• ˈcrucially, adverb

Other Words From

• cru·ci·al·i·ty [kroo-shee-, al, -i-tee, kroo-, shal, -], noun
• crucial·ly adverb
• non·crucial adjective
• non·crucial·ly adverb
• pre·crucial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crucial¹

First recorded in 1700–10; from Latin cruci- (stem of crux cross ( def ) ) + -al ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of crucial¹

C18: from French, from Latin crux cross

Example Sentences

The less crucial amino acids seem to help organisms deal with oxidation, a 2018 study concluded, hinting that LUCA’s forerunners incorporated them while evolving in an environment rich in oxygen or other oxidizing compounds.

From Popular-Science

With venture capital crucial to catalyze business growth, the funding model needs to change.

From Quartz

However, we’ve seen users are spending more time on TikTok than Facebook, and it is crucial for marketers to provide those users with content.

From Digiday

In an article published today in the journal Science, researchers stressed that building an understanding of how these particles are affecting us—especially the most tiny pieces—is crucial.

From Popular-Science

ProPublica went on to use the disciplinary data we published to do more crucial stories.

From ProPublica

All it needs is one more “pipe” to select and transmit the crucial information.

From The Daily Beast

During two years in Iranian custody, Abdolhamid provided crucial details of how Jundullah operated.

From The Daily Beast

Some pilots consider the infrared marker to be crucial to the close air-support mission to support ground troops.

From The Daily Beast

And some of the most compelling statements came from a powerful, crucial set of equality allies: corporations.

From The Daily Beast

From the looks of it, mistletoe is a keystone species and plays a crucial role in that forest ecosystem.

From The Daily Beast

A crucial question, very much affected by what the Admiral told me last night.

From Project Gutenberg

"I'm so very sorry," Anson said, slightly flustered, remembering that this was always the crucial moment in a sale.

From Project Gutenberg

Colonel Mildmay considered; they were approaching the crucial point, and he took his resolution.

From Project Gutenberg

Bernadotte moved slowly, and did not render his force effective at the crucial moment.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of my green men had funked just at the crucial moment, and I had all but shot one.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bottom-line
• central
• compelling
• deciding
• decisive
• essential
• imperative
• momentous
• necessary
• pivotal
• pressing
• touchy
• urgent
• vital

More About Crucial

What does crucial mean?

Crucial means extremely important or involving an extremely important decision or course of action. Close synonyms are critical and decisive.

The word crucial is usually used to describe pivotal moments, choices, or actions that will affect everything that follows, as in We’re at a crucial point in the process—we need to make some big decisions. 

Sometimes, crucial is simply used to describe something that’s extremely important, as in Getting enough sleep is crucial for staying healthy.  

Example: I can’t express how absolutely crucial it is to surround yourself with the right friends.

Where does crucial come from?

The first records of the word crucial come from around the early 1700s. It comes from the Latin crux, which means “cross” and is also the root of the English word crux, meaning “a vital, basic, decisive, or pivotal point.”

Crucial decisions about crucial actions need to be made at crucial times. These crucial points in time are like a crossroads leading to very different directions or different outcomes.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of crucial?

• crucially (adverb)
• cruciality (noun)

What are some synonyms for crucial?

• critical
• decisive
• important
• imperative
• essential
• vital
• pressing

What are some words that share a root or word element with crucial? 

• cruciform
• crux
• cross

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing crucial?

 

• action
• decision
• moment
• point
• juncture
• urgent
• necessary

How is crucial used in real life?

The word crucial is typically used in the discussion of pivotal moments or decisions.

The world is at a crucial juncture.

As governments mobilize trillions of dollars to recover from #COVID19, their decisions will have climate consequences for decades.

The recovery could either propel #ClimateAction forward, or set us back years.https://t.co/Fh6b8AdXyP

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) August 29, 2020

Both my parents live with significant underlying health conditions. They watch @NicolaSturgeon's briefings every day – as do all their friends – for calm & straightforward guidance. Gives them peace of mind. This is a crucial moment, and the worst possible time to pull the plug. https://t.co/A1F5cNvjfQ

— Mark Flood (@MarkTheShark96) September 13, 2020

if you think you have heard my best lyrics yet, (thank u ur cute but) u rly haven’t. it took 2 years to put this album out bc i scrapped more ideas than i can count!!! a cohesive storyline was crucial to me, so every song had to connect & be its own chapter in a greater narrative

— NIKI (@nikizefanya) September 9, 2020

 

 

Try using crucial!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of crucial?

A. optional
B. critical
C. imperitive
D. important