instrumental
adjective
in·stru·men·tal ˌin(t)-strə-ˈmen-tᵊl 
1
a
: serving as a crucial means, agent, or tool
was instrumental in organizing the strike
b
: of, relating to, or done with an instrument or tool
2
: relating to, composed for, or performed on a musical instrument
3
: of, relating to, or being a grammatical case or form expressing means or agency
4
: of or relating to instrumentalism
5
: operant sense 3
instrumental learning
instrumental conditioning
instrumental noun
instrumentally
ˌin(t)-strə-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē
adverb 
Did you know?
An instrument is a tool, something used to construct. It's often a tool for making music. A musical saw happens to be a carpenter's tool that can be played with a violin bow (though you probably wouldn't want to play a wrench or a pair of pliers). The musical meanings of instrumental, as in "It starts with an instrumental piece" or "a jazz instrumental", are common. But the meanings "helpful", "useful", and "essential", as in "He was instrumental in getting my book published", are just as common.
Example Sentences
They played instrumental music at the wedding. an instrumental version of a song
Recent Examples on the Web Tallamy has been instrumental in changing of mindset of homeowners, French said. 
Jennifer Rude Klett, Journal Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 The employment department says Perkins, the first female member of a presidential cabinet, was instrumental in establishing unemployment insurance in the U.S. Mike Rogoway | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 6 Sep. 2022 The trio was instrumental in harassing Millen, who repeatedly escaped the pocket to scramble. Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 3 Sep. 2022 As previously reported, Carlile was instrumental in encouraging Mitchell to return to live performance for the first time in more than a decade at the Newport Folk Festival in July. Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 2 Sep. 2022 Ma was instrumental in helping colleagues and students engage successfully with the technology needed to keep learning. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Aug. 2022 Farrell, Viggo Mortensen, Joel Edgerton and Tom Bateman play real-life cave divers Rick Stanton, John Volanthen, Harry Harris and Chris Jewell, respectively, who were all instrumental in pulling off the feat. Giovana Gelhoren, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2022 But Kushner’s emphasis on himself obscures the significance of Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United States, who was instrumental in removing obstacles to the Abraham Accords. Elizabeth Spiers, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 The English shipping clerk Edmund Dene Morel was instrumental in exposing the brutal, plantation slave labor in the Congo. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
Jennifer Rude Klett, Journal Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 The employment department says Perkins, the first female member of a presidential cabinet, was instrumental in establishing unemployment insurance in the U.S. Mike Rogoway | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 6 Sep. 2022 The trio was instrumental in harassing Millen, who repeatedly escaped the pocket to scramble. Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 3 Sep. 2022 As previously reported, Carlile was instrumental in encouraging Mitchell to return to live performance for the first time in more than a decade at the Newport Folk Festival in July. Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 2 Sep. 2022 Ma was instrumental in helping colleagues and students engage successfully with the technology needed to keep learning. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Aug. 2022 Farrell, Viggo Mortensen, Joel Edgerton and Tom Bateman play real-life cave divers Rick Stanton, John Volanthen, Harry Harris and Chris Jewell, respectively, who were all instrumental in pulling off the feat. Giovana Gelhoren, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2022 But Kushner’s emphasis on himself obscures the significance of Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United States, who was instrumental in removing obstacles to the Abraham Accords. Elizabeth Spiers, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 The English shipping clerk Edmund Dene Morel was instrumental in exposing the brutal, plantation slave labor in the Congo. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
instrumental
adjective
in·stru·men·tal ˌin-strə-ˈmen-tᵊl
1
: acting to get something done
He was instrumental in organizing the club.
2
: relating to or done with an instrument
instrumental navigation
3
: played on an instrument rather than sung
instrumental music
Medical Definition
instrumental
adjective
in·stru·men·tal ˌin(t)-strə-ˈment-ᵊl
: operant
instrumental learning
instrumental conditioning
instrumental
adjective
as in essential
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- essential
- fundamental
- indispensable
- necessary
- requisite
- basic
- elementary
- pivotal
- crucial
- key
- pressing
- decisive
- critical
- urgent
- vital
- life-or-death
- weighty
- life-and-death
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- minor
- trivial
- insignificant
- unimportant
- inconsequential