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

• key
• critical
• vital
• pivotal

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

This zone is crucial for pitch framing, where catchers use their presentation to influence umpires into calling borderline pitches strikes. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025

This physical barrier is crucial for suppressing the decomposition of water, a primary cause of gas formation and efficiency loss in aqueous systems. —Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025

Martinez agreed that publicity moments on the carpet remain crucial but noted that some stars avoid them to steer clear of political questions. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025

The robust programming helped BIFF achieve its highest attendance in recent years, reinforcing the festival’s position as a crucial launchpad for Asian cinema even as the Korean industry grapples with unprecedented challenges. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin cruc-, crux cross

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for crucial

• trucial

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