instrumental
8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for instrumental, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Playing a key or essential role in making something happen.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
vocal
noninstrumental
How to use instrumental
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
instrumental in
instrumental music
play an instrumental
Etymology
Came into English as Middle English instrumental, instrumentale, from Medieval Latin īnstrūmentālis; it can also be analysed as instrument plus -al.
Full origin of instrumental →Frequently asked questions
What does “instrumental” mean?
The word “instrumental” means playing a key or essential role in making something happen. In plain terms, either "crucial to a result" or "made of instruments, with no singing.".
How do you pronounce “instrumental”?
“Instrumental” is pronounced ihnst-ruh-MEHN-tuhl (/ɪnstɹəˈmɛntəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “instrumental” in a sentence?
Here is “instrumental” used in a sentence: “She was instrumental in getting the project funded.”
What is the opposite of “instrumental”?
The opposite of “instrumental” — its antonyms — is noninstrumental.
What part of speech is “instrumental”?
Depending on how it is used, “instrumental” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “instrumental” a common word?
“Instrumental” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “instrumental” have?
“Instrumental” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: playing a key or essential role in making something happen.
What is the difference between instrumental and important?
Both suggest significance, but 'instrumental' specifically means playing an active, essential role in making something happen, while 'important' simply means having great value. Someone instrumental in a project actually helped cause its success.
What prepositions are used with instrumental?
When it means playing a key role, 'instrumental' is followed by 'in', as in 'instrumental in launching the project'. The form 'instrumental to' is far less common and usually sounds unnatural.
What is the difference between an instrumental and a cappella?
An 'instrumental' is a piece of music performed with instruments but no vocals, while 'a cappella' is singing performed with no instruments at all. They are opposites in terms of which element is left out.
What is the difference between instrumental and vocal music?
Instrumental music is written for or performed on instruments, while vocal music features the human voice singing. A song with lyrics is vocal; a backing track with the singing removed is an instrumental.
