vital

adjective

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vi·tal | \ ˈvī-tᵊl

Definition of vital

1a : of the utmost importance a vital clue vital resources

b : fundamentally concerned with or affecting life or living beings: such as

(1) : tending to renew or refresh the living : invigorating

(2) : destructive to life : mortal

2a : concerned with or necessary to the maintenance of life vital organs blood and other vital fluids

b : existing as a manifestation of life

3 : full of life and vigor : animated

4 : characteristic of life or living beings

5 : recording data relating to lives

6 : of, relating to, or constituting the staining of living tissues

Other Words from vital Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing vital Learn More About vital

Choose the Right Synonym for vital

essential, fundamental, vital, cardinal mean so important as to be indispensable. essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character. conflict is essential in drama fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse. fundamental principles of algebra vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued existence or operation. cut off from vital supplies cardinal suggests something on which an outcome turns or depends. a cardinal rule in buying a home

Examples of vital in a Sentence

These matters are vital to national defense. The sciences are a vital part of the school curriculum. your heart, lungs, and other vital organs Exercise keeps her young and vital.

Recent Examples on the Web Core SaaS offerings such as Office 365, Slack, Zoom and Salesforce, as well as the myriad of other SaaS apps that companies have deployed, are vital to a business's day-to-day operations. — Maor Bin, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 So, taming flyaway hair is vital to achieving the sleek look. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2022 Important for everything from staying warm to cooking food and boiling water, fire is vital to survival on both shows. — Outside Online, 4 Aug. 2022 The rule of law is vital to the American system of government. — Dan Mclaughlin, National Review, 4 Aug. 2022 Going back to England in the 1690s, the ability to create new money was recognized as both vital to economic expansion and too important to be left solely to a government that could be foolish or corrupt. — Joseph C. Sternberg, WSJ, 1 Aug. 2022 Matters of identity and the self could be vital to you right now. — Chicago Tribune, 27 July 2022 At a press conference, officials praised the combined work as vital to empowering the predominantly Black community, which for decades had declined under racist government practices and disinvestment. — Bailey Loosemore, The Courier-Journal, 21 July 2022 But Mohammed leads an oil-rich country the administration sees as vital to stabilizing the region and lowering gas prices, and so Biden reluctantly agreed to meet with him. — Arkansas Online, 17 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vital.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.