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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

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

Meaning 1：extremely important (vital)

vital 🔊

/ˈvaɪtl/

adj.

Something that is so important that if it's missing, everything will fail or stop working properly.

Vital meaning illustrated by a strong heartbeat on a medical monitor.

extremely important 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈstriːmli ɪmˈpɔːrtnt/

adj.

Describes something that is absolutely necessary or essential for success, survival, or proper function.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'vita' (life) + '-alis' (related to). Literally 'pertaining to life'.

💡 Mnemonic

Vital is vital for survival; it's like VITALity – you need it to live.

📖 Example

Drinking enough water is vital for keeping your body healthy and energetic. 🔊 Consuming sufficient water is extremely important for maintaining physical health and energy.

🔗 Collocations

vital role – an extremely important function or part

vital information – data that is crucial and necessary

vital statistics – essential recorded data, often regarding population

🔄 Synonyms

critical (adj.) – of the greatest importance to the way things might happen

essential (adj.) – absolutely necessary; extremely important

crucial (adj.) – decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something

🚫 Antonyms

insignificant (adj.) – too small or unimportant to be worth consideration

trivial (adj.) – of little value or importance

🌱 Derivatives

vitality (n.) – the state of being strong and active; energy

vitalize (v.) – to give strength and energy to

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'vitalis', meaning 'of or belonging to life'. It entered English via Old French in the late 14th century. The term has been used in medicine and philosophy for centuries to distinguish life-sustaining functions or forces from the merely important.

Meaning 2：full of life (vital)

vital 🔊

/ˈvaɪtl/

adj.

Describing a person or thing that is full of life, energy, and enthusiasm.

full of life 🔊

➕

/fʊl əv laɪf/

adj.

Describes someone or something that exhibits great energy, liveliness, and enthusiasm.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Even at 70, my grandfather has a vital and curious mind, always eager to learn new things about technology. 🔊 Despite being seventy years old, my grandfather possesses a mind that is full of life and curiosity, constantly enthusiastic about learning new technological concepts.

🔗 Collocations

vital force – an energy or spirit that gives life

vital spirit – a lively and energetic character

vital energy – dynamic liveliness and vigor

🔄 Synonyms

lively (adj.) – full of life and energy; active and outgoing

vibrant (adj.) – full of energy and enthusiasm

dynamic (adj.) – characterized by constant change, activity, or progress

🚫 Antonyms

lifeless (adj.) – dead or appearing to be dead

lethargic (adj.) – affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic