serving or acting as an instrument or means; useful; helpful.
performed on or written for a musical instrument or instruments: instrumental music.
of or relating to an instrument or tool.
Grammar.
(in certain inflected languages, as Old English and Russian) noting or pertaining to a case having as its distinctive function the indication of means or agency, as Old English beseah blīthe andweitan “looked with a happy countenance.”
noting the affix or other element characteristic of this case, or a word containing such an element.
similar to such a case form in function or meaning, as the Latin instrumental ablative, gladiō, “by means of a sword.”
(in case grammar) pertaining to the semantic role of a noun phrase that indicates the inanimate, nonvolitional, immediate cause of the action expressed by a verb, asthe rock in The rock broke the window or in I broke the window with the rock.
noun
Grammar.
the instrumental case.
a word in the instrumental case.
a construction of similar meaning.
a musical composition played by an instrument or a group of instruments.Compare vocal (def. 8).
Origin of instrumental
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word instrūmentālis.See instrument, -al1
Teenagers were instrumental in leading many of the racial justice protests across San Diego County over the summer.
As School Resumes, Students Bring Racial Justice Push to the Classroom|Kayla Jimenez|August 18, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Meanwhile, Kavadze adds, Georgia’s rich natural beauty will be more instrumental than ever.
A Pandemic Tourism Pivot From Cool to Wellness|Dan Peleschuk|August 11, 2020|Ozy
Google My Business has been instrumental in driving customers to a local business.
Guide: How to structure a local SEO strategy for your business|Christian Carere|August 6, 2020|Search Engine Watch
What’s more, instrumental employees who analyze air samples from the sensitive equipment are on vacation.
Answers on Navy Fire’s Health Impacts Won’t Come Right Away|MacKenzie Elmer|July 14, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Whatever the company’s formula, it seems it will be instrumental to making Elon Musk’s vision of a million-mile battery come true, and sooner rather than later.
New Record-Crushing Battery Lasts 1.2 Million Miles in Electric Cars|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|June 11, 2020|Singularity Hub
You write quite a lot about your relationship with your mother and how she was instrumental in your success.
Portrait of the Austin Mahone as a Teen Idol|William O’Connor|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Goebbels was also instrumental in the initial success Strauss had under the Nazis.
Top Nazis And Their Complicated Relationship With Artists|William O’Connor|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The instrumental view of culture has it wrong, she argues, and should be replaced with what she calls an “expressive view.”
The Insane Swedish Plan to Rate Games for Sexism|Nick Gillespie|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And in 1939, the MOMA building opened that he was instrumental in designing and building.
This Republican Loved Taxes & Modern Art|Scott Porch|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“It sounds like the kind of decision that a candidate and a campaign would be instrumental in shaping,” she said.
Is Ready for Hillary Ready to Fold—or Work With Candidate Clinton?|David Freedlander|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The vocal and instrumental combinations are undoubtedly happy and effective.
Verdi: Man and Musician|Frederick James Crowest
Freddy has been affectionately taxed by his betrothed with having been instrumental in its despatch, but he has delicately denied.
Doctor Cupid|Rhoda Broughton
So long as you are not instrumental in causing death, you may safely eat the flesh.
A Civil Servant in Burma|Herbert Thirkel White
During his parliamentary career, in 1837, he was instrumental in passing the copyright act.
Hawthorne and His Circle|Julian Hawthorne
Every institution he appointed was to be instrumental to the production of these three grand objects.
The Young Maiden|A. B. (Artemas Bowers) Muzzey
British Dictionary definitions for instrumental
instrumental
/ (ˌɪnstrəˈmɛntəl) /
adjective
serving as a means or influence; helpful
of, relating to, or characterized by an instrument or instruments
played by or composed for musical instruments
grammardenoting a case of nouns, etc, in certain inflected languages, indicating the instrument used in performing an action, usually translated into English using the prepositions with or by means of
noun
a piece of music composed for instruments rather than for voices