critical
- 1Extremely important, especially for how something turns out or whether it succeeds.
Like the one rope holding a climber: without it, everything fails.
Water is critical for keeping plants alive.
Getting enough sleep is critical before a big test.
UsageSay critical to or critical for something, or it is critical that you do it.
Similarcrucial, imperative, key
Oppositeunimportant, insignificant, inessential, trivial
- 2Relating to judging the good and bad points of books, movies, or art.
Like a teacher carefully grading an essay line by line.
The movie won a lot of critical praise this year.
Her first novel received critical attention from many reviewers.
UsageHere it is about reviewers, not complaining: critical praise means reviewers liked it.
Similarinterpretive
Note
- 3Quick to point out what is wrong with someone or something.
Like a judge who only looks for mistakes.
My boss is very critical and rarely says anything kind.
She gets critical whenever I try to cook dinner.
UsageSay critical of someone or something.
Similarjudgmental, exacting, censorious, captious
Oppositeapproving, complimentary, appreciative
- 4Judging the good and bad points of something carefully and fairly, using reasons and facts.
Our teacher wants us to take a critical look at what we read online.
Good scientists stay critical even about their own results.
UsageCommon in critical thinking and a critical look: fair, careful judging, not complaining.
Similaranalytical, discerning, evaluative
Oppositeuncritical
- 5Very ill or badly hurt, and in danger of dying.
Like a candle flame that the smallest breeze could put out.
After the crash, she was in critical condition.
Doctors described his injuries as critical.
UsageMost often said as in critical condition.
Note
- 6
- 7At the exact point where something suddenly changes, for example where a nuclear reaction keeps going by itself.
Like a fire that keeps burning once it really catches.
The reactor went critical, and the reaction kept going by itself.
Once the fuel becomes critical, it no longer needs an outside push.
UsageSay a reactor goes critical or becomes critical.
Note
Less common meanings
- 8Easy to push out of control if something disturbs it.
Similarunstable, precarious, volatile
Oppositestable
- 9A speed or other point where something changes sharply, or a valuable part of a product that may be hard to get.
- 10So much like other kinds that it is very hard to tell apart and name correctly.
- 11A breakdancing move where the dancer, balanced on bent arms, spins in the air and hops from hand to hand.
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Practice
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Origin
From Latin criticus, which came from Greek kritikós meaning 'able to judge', from krínō 'I separate or judge'. It shares a root with 'crisis'.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 6 facts
- Critical derives from Latin criticus. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin criticus came from Greek kritikós. en.wiktionary.org
- Kritikós means 'able to judge'. en.wiktionary.org
- Kritikós derives ultimately from krínō. en.wiktionary.org
- Krínō means 'I separate or judge'. en.wiktionary.org
- Critical and crisis share the root krínō. en.wiktionary.org