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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Crucial: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：decisive factor (crucial)

crucial 🔊

/ˈkruːʃl/

adj.

So important that everything else depends on it; a deciding factor.

Crucial word meaning illustrated by a decisive red button in a tense office meeting.

decisive factor 🔊

➕

/dɪˈsaɪsɪv ˈfæktər/

adj.

Describes something so important that the outcome of a situation entirely depends on it.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'crux' (cross), meaning a decisive turning point.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a crossroad: 'cru' (cross) + 'cial' – a crucial decision point.

📖 Example

Choosing the right partner is crucial for the success of this business project. 🔊 Selecting the appropriate partner is extremely important for the business project's success.

🔗 Collocations

play a crucial role – to have a very significant function

be crucial to – to be extremely important for

at a crucial juncture – at a critical point in time

🔄 Synonyms

critical (adj.) – of the greatest importance; decisive

vital (adj.) – absolutely necessary; essential

pivotal (adj.) – of crucial importance in relation to development

🚫 Antonyms

trivial (adj.) – of little value or importance

insignificant (adj.) – not important or noteworthy

🌱 Derivatives

crucially (adv.) – in a decisive or critical manner

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'crux', the cross symbolizing a critical juncture, evolved in English to denote utmost importance.

Meaning 2：extremely important (crucial)

crucial 🔊

/ˈkruːʃl/

adj.

Extremely important for a specific goal, like health or success; cannot be missed.

Crucial concept shown by choosing a healthy apple over cake for essential nutrition.

extremely important 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈstriːmli ɪmˈpɔːrtnt/

adj.

Refers to something absolutely necessary for achieving a specific goal, such as health or success, and cannot be omitted.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Getting enough sleep is crucial for your mental and physical health. 🔊 Adequate sleep is vitally important for maintaining both mental and physical health.

🔗 Collocations

crucial for health – extremely important for maintaining good health

a crucial step – an essential action

of crucial importance – of the highest significance

🔄 Synonyms

essential (adj.) – absolutely necessary; extremely important

imperative (adj.) – of vital importance; crucial

indispensable (adj.) – absolutely necessary

🚫 Antonyms

optional (adj.) – available to be chosen but not obligatory

nonessential (adj.) – not absolutely necessary