central
1 of 2adjective
cen·tral ˈsen-trəl 
1
: containing or constituting a center
2
: of primary importance : essential, principal
the central character of the novel
3
a
: situated at, in, or near the center
the central part of the state
b
: easily accessible from outlying districts
a central location for the new theater
4
a
: centrally placed and superseding separate scattered units
central heating
b
: controlling or directing local or branch activities
the central committee
5
: holding to a middle between extremes : moderate
6
: of, relating to, or comprising the brain and spinal cord
also : originating within the central nervous system
central deafness
centrally
ˈsen-trə-lē
adverb central
2 of 2noun
1
: a telephone exchange or operator
2
: a central office or bureau usually controlling others
weather central
3
: a center or hub for a specified activity or group
her house is party central
the family room becomes kid central
Synonyms
Adjective
- arch
- big
- capital
- cardinal
- chief
- dominant
- first
- foremost
- grand
- great
- greatest
- highest
- key
- leading
- main
- master
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- overbearing
- overmastering
- overriding
- paramount
- predominant
- preeminent
- premier
- primal
- primary
- principal
- prior
- sovereign
- sovran
- supreme
Noun
- axis
- base
- capital
- center
- core
- cynosure
- epicenter
- eye
- focus
- ground zero
- heart
- hub
- locus
- mecca
- navel
- nerve center
- nexus
- nucleus
- omphalos
- seat
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The house has four rooms and a central chimney. City planners are looking for a central location for the new hospital. The evidence was central to the defense's case. The country's schools are financed by both local and central governments. The central authority of the company's board is being challenged. Noun Our family room becomes kid central on weekends. a health club that has become dating central for singles in the area See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2022 When Povalyaeva was on Maidan, Kyiv’s central square, during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution in 2004 protesting presidential elections rigged in favor of the status-quo candidate, then-Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, 7-year-old Roman was at her side. Serhiy Morgunov, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2022 Cronkite News Inside George & Dragon English Pub in central Phoenix, cheers and toasts in honor of the late queen could be heard from British expatriates and the regular patrons during the early afternoon Thursday. Emily Mai, The Arizona Republic, 10 Sep. 2022 Scores of small business owners across central Connecticut have similar stories. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 Sep. 2022 That report also noted that Irma caused $760 million in damages to southwest and central Florida orange groves. Joe Mario Pedersen, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 Connie is vice president of the JJ Watt Foundation and has taken a central role in operating the charitable enterprise, which was instrumental in funneling resources to Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 For young apartment hunters, central Madrid exists in a state of perpetual drought. Sarah Medford, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022 The first one was in the central tropical Atlantic about 1,100 miles east of the Leeward Islands. Leigh Morgan, al, 9 Sep. 2022 Frank Dell'apa, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022 Democrats hold a narrow majority in the House and Senate, and Republicans hope to make Mr. Biden’s economic record central to their strategy to recapture both chambers. Ken Thomas, WSJ, 29 July 2022 Make this central to every decision-making process. Agur Jõgi, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Merging extensive reporting with a sensitive point of view that strives to keep Smart’s humanity central, the show quickly became a top true-crime show across platforms. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2022 Most models put the strong winds in the central to southern part of the Willamette Valley. oregonlive, 27 May 2022 In 1986 Dakine had moved to windsurfing-central in Hood River, Ore., and begun years of expansion into bike and snow sports, apparel and more. Valerie Stivers, WSJ, 10 May 2022 Reactions to their antics are part of the massive PR machination central to their relevancy and economic status. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2022 The designation ensures independent federal oversight of cleanup of some 262 acres of Bradford Island, the central of three islands in the Columbia comprising the hydroelectric dam near Cascade Locks. oregonlive, 17 Mar. 2022 See More
Adjective
The La Niña climate pattern is a natural cycle marked by cooler-than-average ocean water in the central Pacific Ocean. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2022 When Povalyaeva was on Maidan, Kyiv’s central square, during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution in 2004 protesting presidential elections rigged in favor of the status-quo candidate, then-Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, 7-year-old Roman was at her side. Serhiy Morgunov, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2022 Cronkite News Inside George & Dragon English Pub in central Phoenix, cheers and toasts in honor of the late queen could be heard from British expatriates and the regular patrons during the early afternoon Thursday. Emily Mai, The Arizona Republic, 10 Sep. 2022 Scores of small business owners across central Connecticut have similar stories. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 Sep. 2022 That report also noted that Irma caused $760 million in damages to southwest and central Florida orange groves. Joe Mario Pedersen, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 Connie is vice president of the JJ Watt Foundation and has taken a central role in operating the charitable enterprise, which was instrumental in funneling resources to Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 For young apartment hunters, central Madrid exists in a state of perpetual drought. Sarah Medford, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022 The first one was in the central tropical Atlantic about 1,100 miles east of the Leeward Islands. Leigh Morgan, al, 9 Sep. 2022 Noun
But Arena found an effective combination with Gonzalez central, flanked by Farrell and Makoun. Frank Dell'apa, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022 Democrats hold a narrow majority in the House and Senate, and Republicans hope to make Mr. Biden’s economic record central to their strategy to recapture both chambers. Ken Thomas, WSJ, 29 July 2022 Make this central to every decision-making process. Agur Jõgi, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Merging extensive reporting with a sensitive point of view that strives to keep Smart’s humanity central, the show quickly became a top true-crime show across platforms. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2022 Most models put the strong winds in the central to southern part of the Willamette Valley. oregonlive, 27 May 2022 In 1986 Dakine had moved to windsurfing-central in Hood River, Ore., and begun years of expansion into bike and snow sports, apparel and more. Valerie Stivers, WSJ, 10 May 2022 Reactions to their antics are part of the massive PR machination central to their relevancy and economic status. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2022 The designation ensures independent federal oversight of cleanup of some 262 acres of Bradford Island, the central of three islands in the Columbia comprising the hydroelectric dam near Cascade Locks. oregonlive, 17 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
borrowed from Latin centrālis, from centrum center entry 1 + -ālis -al entry 1
Noun
derivative of central entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
1623, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Noun
1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing central
Kids Definition
central
adjective
cen·tral ˈsen-trəl
1
: located or placed at, in, or near the center
central Australia
2
: most important : chief
The central character of the story is an orphan.
Medical Definition
central
adjective
cen·tral ˈsen-trəl
1
: of or concerning the centrum of a vertebra
2
a
: of, relating to, or comprising the brain and spinal cord
b
: originating within the central nervous system : caused by factors originating in the central nervous system
central precocious puberty
3
: affecting or involving the trunk of the body and especially the abdomen
central adiposity
centrals
noun
as in centers
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest a health club that has become dating central for singles in the area Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- centers
- capitals
- hubs
- meccas
- nuclei
- bases
- cores
- hearts
- focuses
- nucleuses
- nexuses
- seats
- nexus
- axes
- epicenters
- foci
- navels
- nerve centers
- loci
- headquarters
- playgrounds
- eyes
- ground zeros
- cynosures
- omphali
- kernels
- hives
- hotbeds
- attractions
- magnets
- hot spots
- piths
- essences
- nubs
- deeps
- playlands
- thicks
- souls
- lodestones
- quintessences
- polestars
- happy hunting grounds
- loadstones