instrumental
adjective
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.
Examples of instrumental in a Sentence
Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
Such a devastating turn by the advocate who was instrumental in building Reigns' dominant empire, tearing it down to crown Punk, would fundamentally shake the power structure of WWE to its very core.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
That said, Monday night’s deliveries likely fell well shy of what the Eye Network would have commanded if Duke hadn’t blown its shot at a 12th trip to the championship game; 10 years ago, the Blue Devils were instrumental in serving up 28.3 million viewers with a 68-63 victory over Wisconsin.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Related article Top vaccine official forced out of FDA
And Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, who was instrumental in the development and authorization of mRNA vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic, was forced out of the agency this month.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Cite this Entry
“Instrumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instrumental. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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instrumental
adjective
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instrumental
adjective
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