This adjective marks something as extremely important to a situation or outcome.
The idea
Use crucial before a noun, after a linking verb, or with to or for to name what depends on it.
Examples
- Clean water is crucial to public health.
- Her advice was crucial to the decision.
- It is crucial to check the map before leaving.
- The final vote played a crucial role.
- Trust is crucial for this partnership.
- A crucial detail was missing from the report.
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Watch out
Do not use crucial for every minor convenience: it signals decisive importance.
Try it yourself
Choose the correct answer. The decisive evidence was ___. (crucial / trivial)
Show answer or example answer
crucial
Crucial fits the decisive evidence.
Choose the correct answer. Good timing is crucial ___ success. (to / from)
Show answer or example answer
to
To links the factor with the outcome it affects.
Choose the correct answer. A crucial step is not ___. (unimportant / essential)
Show answer or example answer
unimportant
Unimportant contradicts the adjective’s meaning.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the correct answer. The decisive evidence was ___. (crucial / trivial)
Choose the correct answer. Good timing is crucial ___ success. (to / from)
Choose the correct answer. A crucial step is not ___. (unimportant / essential)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe a factor that was decisive in a difficult decision.