instrumental

/,instru'mentl/

Thân thiện

The new evidence was instrumental in solving the case.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Serving as a means or aid: Being helpful or useful in achieving a particular result or purpose.
   • Relating to or performed on musical instruments: Pertaining to music played by instruments, without vocal parts.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Serving as a means):
  • His research was instrumental in developing the new vaccine.
  • She was instrumental in organizing the community event.
• Adjective (Relating to music):
  • The band played an instrumental version of the popular song.
  • I prefer instrumental music when I'm studying.

Advanced Usage

• Instrumental in doing something: A common collocation to describe being a crucial factor in causing something to happen.
  • The new policy was instrumental in reducing traffic accidents.
• Instrumental case: In linguistics, a grammatical case used to indicate the means or instrument by which an action is performed. (e.g., in some languages, a noun suffix shows the "with what" of an action).

Variants and Related Words

• Instrumentally (adverb): In an instrumental manner; as a means.
  • The data was used instrumentally to support the theory.
• Instrumentalist (noun):
  • A person who plays a musical instrument.

    • She is a talented instrumentalist.
  • An adherent of instrumentalism (a philosophy of science).
• Instrumentalism (noun): A pragmatic philosophy of science that views theories as instruments or tools for prediction and problem-solving, rather than as true descriptions of reality.

Synonyms

• Conducive: Making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible.
• Helpful: Giving or ready to give help.
• Implemental: Serving as a means (less common).
• Orchestral: For the adjective sense relating to music, this can be a near-synonym when referring to music played by an orchestra.

Related Phrases

• Instrumental reason/ rationality: A philosophical concept referring to reasoning focused on the most efficient means to achieve a given end, often without evaluating the end itself.

Idioms

• To be instrumental: This is the core idiomatic usage meaning to play a key role in making something happen.
  • Her leadership was instrumental to the project's success.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. serving or acting as a means or aid
   • instrumental in solving the crime
2. relating to or designed for or performed on musical instruments
   • instrumental compositions
   • an instrumental ensemble

Từ đồng nghĩa

• implemental
• subservient