Crucial
/ˈkruːʃəl/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Crucial describes something that is extremely important and needed for a result or decision. If something is crucial, it means without it, things may fail or not work properly. It often refers to moments, choices, or parts that have a big effect on the outcome.
Was this helpful?
⚡ See It in Action
Something very important for success or failure
- •It is crucial to study well before the exam.
- •Good communication is crucial in a team.
- •The next few minutes are crucial for the rescue operation.
A critical moment or decision
- •The meeting was crucial for deciding the company’s future.
- •She faced a crucial choice between two jobs.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "crucial" like "important" (A2 word), but much stronger—like the most important thing you cannot forget or miss
- ✓Picture a key turning in a lock that opens a door; that key is crucial because without it, you cannot enter
- ✓It’s the feeling when you know you must do something right now, or everything will go wrong—like an important test or decision
- ✓Sounds like "CRU-shal" → imagine a "crew" (team) working hard to "crush all" problems because this moment is crucial
- ✓Think of a story where the hero must make one big choice to save the day—that moment is crucial
- ✓NOT like "nice" or "good" (small importance), crucial means something that can change everything
- ✓NOT like "optional" (can skip), crucial means you must do it or have it for success
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Vital: necessary for life or success (Use when something is needed to keep going or survive)
- •Essential: absolutely needed (Use when something cannot be left out)
- •Critical: very serious or important (Use when the situation or decision is urgent and must be handled carefully)
- •Key: very important or main (Use when something acts like a main part or solution)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: From Latin "crux" meaning "cross" or "point of difficulty," + suffix "-ial" meaning "related to"
- •Etymology: Comes from Latin "crucialis," meaning "at a cross or crisis point"
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe a turning point or difficult choice, now means something very important or decisive
- •Modern usage: Used in everyday English to show something very important for success or decision-making
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a moment in your life that was crucial for your future? What made it so important?
•How does knowing something is crucial change the way you prepare or act?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.It is crucial to ___ the instructions carefully before starting the test.
2.The doctor said quick action was crucial ___ saving the patient’s life.
3.Unlike small mistakes, a crucial error can ___ the whole project.
4.When the team faced a crucial problem, they had to ___ together to find a solution.
5.She made a crucial decision ___ accepting the job offer or not.
6.The success of the event was crucially ___ on good weather.
7.In a crucial moment, people often feel ___ to make the right choice.