# critical

/ˈkɹɪtɪkəɫ/ (US) · /kɹˈɪtɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/critical
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. very important

adjective · CEFR B2

extremely important or necessary for something to succeed.

For teachers: of decisive importance to the success, failure, or existence of something.

- The next few minutes are critical for the success of the mission.
- Securing the funding by the end of the quarter is critical to the long-term viability of the research project.

### 2. finding fault

adjective · CEFR B2

saying that someone or something is bad or wrong.

For teachers: expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments.

- He is very critical of the way the government handles the economy.
- The director was notoriously critical of his lead actors, often demanding dozens of retakes for even the simplest scenes.

### 3. serious medical state

adjective · CEFR B2

extremely ill and at risk of dying.

For teachers: relating to a patient condition involving unstable vital signs and a high risk of death.

- The driver was taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition.
- After the surgery, the patient was moved to the intensive care unit where she remains in critical but stable condition.

### 4. careful analysis

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

giving a careful and fair judgment of something like a book or movie.

For teachers: involving the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.

- Students are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills in this course.
- The essay provides a critical analysis of the author's later works, highlighting the shift in thematic focus.

### 5. physics threshold

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

the point where a physical change happens, like a nuclear reaction starting.

For teachers: relating to the point at which a nuclear or chemical reaction becomes self-sustaining.

- The reactor reached a critical state and began producing power.
- The experiment failed because the fuel did not reach the critical mass required to sustain a chain reaction.

## Examples

- The first few minutes of the meeting are critical.
- The patient remains in critical condition, but doctors are hopeful that the new treatment will stabilize her by morning.
- While the director welcomed honest feedback, she found the lead critic's review to be unnecessarily critical of the production's minor technical flaws rather than its artistic merits.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.