instrumental
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, as the rock in The rock broke the window or in I broke the window with the rock.
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
1Other words for instrumental
Other words from instrumental
- in·stru·men·tal·ly, adverb
- non·in·stru·men·tal, adjective
- non·in·stru·men·tal·ly, adverb
- un·in·stru·men·tal, adjective
- un·in·stru·men·tal·ly, adverb
Words Nearby instrumental
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use instrumental in a sentence
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 DiegoMeanwhile, Kavadze adds, Georgia’s rich natural beauty will be more instrumental than ever.
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 WatchWhat’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 DiegoWhatever 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 | THE DAILY BEASTGoebbels 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 | THE DAILY BEASTThe 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 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd in 1939, the MOMA building opened that he was instrumental in designing and building.
“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 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Duke of Tarentum was mainly instrumental in saving the remnants of the army which had managed to cross the Elster.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonThis discovery and invention has been largely instrumental in the rapid development of sound recording.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge | VariousThus, contributions to vocal music, instrumental music and musical forms have been made by natives and residents of Virginia.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia | Dorothy M. TorpeyIf she had been instrumental in the death of Sir Herbert, surely this was just the way she would conduct herself.
In the Onyx Lobby | Carolyn WellsHis present rather ridiculous discomfort he had been at least instrumental in bringing on himself.
Digby Heathcote | W.H.G. Kingston
British Dictionary definitions for instrumental
/ (ˌɪnstrəˈmɛntəl) /
serving as a means or influence; helpful
of, relating to, or characterized by an instrument or instruments
played by or composed for musical instruments
grammar denoting 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
a piece of music composed for instruments rather than for voices
grammar
the instrumental case
a word or speech element in the instrumental case
Derived forms of instrumental
- instrumentality, noun
- instrumentally, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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