crucial
adjective OPAL WOPAL S
  /ˈkruːʃl/
  /ˈkruːʃl/
- extremely important, because it will affect other things synonym critical, essential- The next few weeks are going to be crucial.
- Private security cameras can prove crucial in some investigations.
- Parents play a crucial role in preparing their child for school.
- This step is a crucial part of the process.
- a crucial step/point
- He wasn't there at the crucial moment (= when he was needed most).
- a crucial element/factor/question/issue
- topics of crucial importance
- crucial to something Winning this contract is absolutely crucial to our long term success.
- crucial for something The talks are crucial for the success of the plan.
- Early detection is crucial in the fight against cancer.
- it is crucial that… It is crucial that we get this right.
- crucial in doing something The summit was crucial in shaping the reform process.
 Synonyms essentialessential- vital
- crucial
- critical
- decisive
- indispensable
 - essential extremely important and completely necessary, because without it something cannot exist, be made or be successful:- Experience is essential for this job.
 
- vital essential:- The police play a vital role in our society.
 
 - crucial extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it:- It is crucial that we get this right.
 
- critical extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it:- Your decision is critical to our future.
 
 - decisive of the greatest importance in affecting the final result of a particular situation:- She has played a decisive role in the peace negotiations.
 
- indispensable essential; too important to be without:- Cars have become an indispensable part of our lives.
 
 - essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable for something
- essential/vital/crucial/critical/indispensable to something
- essential/vital/crucial/critical that…
- essential/vital/crucial/critical to do something
- a(n) essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable part/factor
- of vital/crucial/critical/decisive importance
- absolutely essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable
 Language Bank emphasisemphasisHighlighting an important point- This case emphasizes/highlights the importance of honest communication between managers and employees.
 
- Effective communication skills are essential/crucial/vital.
 
- It should be noted that this study considers only verbal communication. Non-verbal communication is not dealt with here.
 
- It is important to remember that/An important point to remember is that non-verbal communication plays a key role in getting your message across.
 
- Communication is not only about the words you use but also your body language and, especially/above all, the effectiveness with which you listen.
 
- I would like to draw attention to the role of listening in effective communication.
 
- Choose your words carefully: in particular, avoid confusing and ambiguous language.
 
- Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you must learn to listen as well as to speak.
 
 Language Bank vitalvitalSaying that something is necessary- It is vital that journalists can verify the accuracy of their reports.
 
- Journalists play a vital/crucial role in educating the public.
 
- Public trust is a crucial issue for all news organizations.
 
- The ability to write well is essential for any journalist.
 
- The internet has become an indispensable tool for reporters.
 
- In journalism, accuracy is paramount/…is of paramount importance.
 
- It is imperative that journalists maintain the highest possible standards of reporting.
 
 Extra Examples- Secrecy is crucial to this police operation.
- A crucial factor affecting educational performance is the competence of the teacher.
- Getting these procedures right is of crucial importance.
- Winning this contract is crucial to the success of the company.
 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- prove
- seem
- …
 - really
- very
- absolutely
- …
 - for
- to
 Word Originearly 18th cent. (in the sense ‘cross-shaped’): from French, from Latin crux, cruc- ‘cross’. The sense ‘decisive’ is from Francis Bacon's Latin phrase instantia crucis ‘crucial instance’, which he explained as a metaphor from a crux or fingerpost marking a fork at a crossroad; Newton and Boyle took up the metaphor in experimentum crucis ‘crucial experiment’.