Word
crucial
Phoneticscru·cial, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɹuʃəɫ/
UK/kɹˈuːʃəl/
Definitions
01extremely important
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic · General-service
adj. extremely important because it will affect the final result of something.
adj. essential or decisive for determining the outcome or future of a situation; vital to success.
日本語:肝心※
“The goalkeeper made a crucial save in the final minute of the game.”
“The research team reached a crucial stage in the experiment where any minor error could invalidate months of data collection.”
Usage
Often followed by the prepositions 'to' or 'for'.
Pitfall
This is more crucial than that.
This is more important than that.
While common in speech, 'crucial' is often considered a non-gradable adjective in formal writing; something is either crucial or it is not.
Antonyms
02excellent
C1 · Advanced Music Slang · Informal · Dialect
adj. very good or excellent, especially when talking about music.
adj. a slang term of approval meaning excellent or of high quality; historically associated with reggae culture.
“That new track they played last night was absolutely crucial.”
“The DJ was known for spinning crucial reggae cuts that you couldn't hear anywhere else in the city.”
Teaching tip
This usage is specific to certain dialects and subcultures, particularly in Jamaican English; learners should use 'essential' in most other contexts.
03cross-shaped
C2 · Proficiency Science Archaic · Technical
adj. shaped like a cross.
adj. having the form of a cross; cruciform.
“The botanist noted the crucial arrangement of the petals on the rare flower.”
“The ancient structure was built upon a crucial ground plan, with four wings extending from a central hub.”
Usage
In modern English, 'cruciform' is almost always preferred for this meaning.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “crucial” in context.
Adjective
01. crucial aspect
“Time management is a crucial aspect of succeeding in university studies.”
adj + noun
02. crucial component
“Trust is a crucial component of any healthy relationship.”
adj + noun
03. crucial concept
“Understanding supply and demand is a crucial concept in economics.”
adj + noun
04. crucial element
“Effective communication is a crucial element of teamwork.”
adj + noun
05. crucial factor
“The weather was a crucial factor in the team's decision to cancel the match.”
adj + noun
06. crucial importance
“It is of crucial importance that you arrive at the airport on time.”
adj + noun
07. crucial issue
“Data privacy has become a crucial issue for many internet users.”
adj + noun
08. crucial part
“Regular exercise plays a crucial part in maintaining physical health.”
adj + noun
09. crucial point
“The speaker made a crucial point about the need for renewable energy.”
adj + noun
10. crucial question
“The crucial question is whether the project will be finished by Friday.”
adj + noun
11. crucial role
“Technology plays a crucial role in modern education.”
adj + noun
12. crucial first
Real-World Examples
“It was a great luxury to work that way.”
Cultural exchange has always been a crucial part of Japan’s story and how its art travels.” “Social connection is crucial, both for responding to extreme weather and for working together to help the entire community adapt to a changing climate.” “He also gains the trust of the riverland armies, who play a crucial role in season three.” “Back on the bus, West says the crucial thing is not rushing women.” Etymology
1706, from French crucial, a medical term for ligaments of the knee (which cross each other), from Latin crux, crucis (“cross”) (English crux), from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to turn, to bend”). The meaning “decisive, critical” is extended from a logical term, Instantias Crucis, adopted by Francis Bacon in his influential Novum Organum (1620); the notion is of cross fingerboard signposts at forking roads, thus a requirement to choose.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/crucial
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0