If you describe something as crucial, you mean it is extremely important. He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself Improved consumer confidence is crucial to an economic recovery. = critical + crucially cru·cial·ly Chewing properly is crucially important Crucially, though, it failed to secure the backing of the banks. something that is crucial is extremely important, because everything else depends on it crucial to (from crux; CROSS)
of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis; "a crucial moment in his career"; "a crucial election"; "a crucial issue for women" having the power or quality of deciding; "the crucial experiment"; "cast the deciding vote"; "the determinative (or determinant) battle" having crucial relevance; "crucial to the case"; "relevant testimony
Severe; trying or searching, as if bringing to the cross; decisive; as, a crucial test
having the power or quality of deciding; "the crucial experiment"; "cast the deciding vote"; "the determinative (or determinant) battle"
of the greatest importance; "the all-important subject of disarmament"; "crucial information"; "in chess cool nerves are of the essence"