DictionaryAI

crucial

adjective
USKROO-shul/ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/KROO-shuhl/ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/

3 meanings of crucial

Practice

  1. 1
    adjective
    Very important, because the result depends on it.

    Like the one key that opens the door: nothing works without it.

    Getting enough sleep is crucial before a big test.

    Her quick thinking was crucial in stopping the fire from spreading.

    Similaressential, critical, vital, key, important

    Oppositeunimportant, insignificant, trivial, inessential

    Note
  2. 2
    adjectiveslangJamaica
    Very good or excellent, especially when talking about reggae music.

    That new reggae song is crucial. Play it again!

    Man, that sound system was crucial last night. Best party all year!

    Similarwicked, excellent, killer

    Oppositelousy

    Note
  3. 3
    adjectivearchaic
    Shaped like a cross or a plus sign.
    Note

Practice

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Origin

From 1706, from French crucial, a medical word for the crossing ligaments of the knee, from Latin crux meaning "cross." The sense "decisive" came from a logical term used by Francis Bacon in 1620, from the idea of signposts at a fork in the road forcing you to choose.