vital
VEYE-tuhl
Vital (adj) means Absolutely necessary; essential to success or survival. Example: “Clean water is vital for public health.”
adj
1
Absolutely necessary; essential to success or survival.
"Clean water is vital for public health."
"Getting enough sleep is vital before an exam."
"It is vital that you arrive on time for the interview."
2
Relating to or necessary for staying alive.
"The bullet missed all his vital organs."
"The doctors checked his vital signs every ten minutes during the night."
"Your heart and lungs are vital to keeping you alive."
How to use vital
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither essential/critically important, or literally connected to keeping someone alive.
Common pairings
vital signs
vital organs
vitally important
play a vital role
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more vital
- Superlative
- most vital
Fill the gap
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Clean water is _____ for public health.
Etymology
From Latin vitalis, "of life, life-giving," from vita, "life."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for vital
digital
capital
recital
marital
orbital
genital
hospital
occipital
congenital
premarital
extramarital
See all rhymes for vital →
Frequently asked questions
What does “vital” mean?
The word “vital” means absolutely necessary; essential to success or survival. In plain terms, either essential/critically important, or literally connected to keeping someone alive.
How do you pronounce “vital”?
“Vital” is pronounced VEYE-tuhl (/ˈvaɪtəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “vital” in a sentence?
Here is “vital” used in a sentence: “Clean water is vital for public health.”
What is the opposite of “vital”?
The opposite of “vital” — its antonyms — is mortal.
What part of speech is “vital”?
“Vital” is an adjective.
Where does the word “vital” come from?
The word “vital” comes from Latin. From Latin vitalis, "of life, life-giving," from vita, "life.".
Is “vital” a common word?
“Vital” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “vital” have?
“Vital” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: absolutely necessary; essential to success or survival.
What is the difference between vital and essential?
Both mean absolutely necessary, and in most sentences they are interchangeable. Vital is often slightly stronger and more urgent, reflecting its connection to life itself, as in "vital organs." Essential is the more neutral, all-purpose choice, as in "essential supplies" or "essential reading."
What are vital signs?
Vital signs are the basic body measurements that show a person is alive and how well the body is functioning, chiefly pulse, breathing rate, body temperature, and blood pressure. The phrase uses vital in its sense of relating to or necessary for staying alive. Medical staff check vital signs to monitor a patient's condition.
Why do people say it is vital that he be informed instead of is informed?
After "it is vital that," formal English often uses the subjunctive mood, which takes the base form of the verb: "it is vital that she attend," "it is vital that he be informed." This pattern is standard in formal and American usage, while British English also accepts "should": "it is vital that he should be informed."
What are common collocations with vital?
Vital most often pairs with role, importance, part, information, and interest: "the charity plays a vital role." In the medical or biological sense it pairs with organs, signs, and functions. The phrase "absolutely vital" is common in speech for emphasis.
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