Someone or something that is instrumentalin a process or event helps to make it happen.
In his first years as chairman he was instrumental in raising the company's widerprofile. [+ in]
The Senator was instrumental in the release of some of the hostages.
Synonyms: active, involved, influential, useful More Synonyms of instrumental
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Instrumental music is performed by instruments and not by voices.
...a recording of vocal and instrumental music.
Instrumentals are pieces of instrumental music.
The last track on the abum is an instrumental.
instrumental in British English
(ˌɪnstrəˈmɛntəl)
adjective
1.
serving as a means or influence; helpful
2.
of, relating to, or characterized by an instrument or instruments
3.
played by or composed for musical instruments
4. 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
noun
5.
a piece of music composed for instruments rather than for voices
6. grammar
a.
the instrumental case
b.
a word or speech element in the instrumental case
Derived forms
instrumentality (ˌinstrumenˈtality)
noun
instrumentally (ˌinstruˈmentally)
adverb
instrumental in American English
(ˌɪnstrəˈmɛntəl)
adjective
1.
serving as a means; helpful (in bringing something about)
2.
of or performed with an instrument or tool
3.
of, performed on, or written for a musical instrument or instruments
4.
of or in keeping with instrumentalism
5. Grammar
designating, of, or in the case of nouns, pronouns, or adjectives expressing means or agency
noun
6.
a composition for a musical instrument or instruments
7. Grammar
a.
the instrumental case: this case is expressed by inflection in Old English, Sanskrit, Russian, etc., and in English with the prepositions by or with (Ex.: OE ðȳ spere, “by the spear, with the spear”)
b.
a word or phrase in this case
Derived forms
instrumentally (ˌinstruˈmentally)
adverb
Word origin
ME < MFr < ML instrumentalis
Examples of 'instrumental' in a sentence
instrumental
It is also the name of the woozy instrumental opening track.
The Sun (2017)
The soundtrack is a cascade of kitsch vocals and instrumental covers.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Why do you stick to instrumental music?
The Sun (2015)
The result was an instrumental album that sold in six figures.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It was an instrumental piece that depicted a snake charmer and a snake.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Their intoxication with the details of his instrumental writing fuelled a performance that was anything but routine.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Countless instrumental details are imbued with far more theatrical insight than anything on stage.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It also lets us tell more of a story with our music than we could with purely instrumental music.
The Sun (2015)
And rarely does instrumental rock music have such an emotional effect on the listener as these glorious meteor showers of noise.
The Sun (2007)
The songwriting is at the forefront; there are no instrumental tracks.
The Sun (2015)
But that delicacy is matched by delightful instrumental solos, particularly from cello and flute.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This documentary tells the story of how a painfully shy 19-yearold recorded an album that became the biggest selling instrumental album of all time.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I am a specialist instrumental music teacher who will very soon be 60 years old.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Don't get me wrong, contemporary instrumental music often works to dazzling effect.
The Sun (2006)
It is also, like the other six tracks, instrumental.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He says: 'The instrumental tracks on the album pin it down better than the vocal ones.
The Sun (2014)
Lots of duets, songs, instrumental solos.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
If there is one criticism, it's the number of instrumental tracks that lack a point of focus.
The Sun (2012)
I really like instrumental music and I need to relax and let myself wind down afterwards.
The Sun (2008)
Word lists with
instrumental
grammatical
In other languages
instrumental
British English: instrumental ADJECTIVE
Someone or something that is instrumental in a process or event helps to make it happen.
In his first years as chairman he was instrumental in raising the company's wider profile.
American English: instrumental
Brazilian Portuguese: instrumental
Chinese: 起作用的
European Spanish: instrumental
French: qui contribue
German: entscheidend
Italian: strumentale
Japanese: 役に立つ
Korean: 도움이 되는
European Portuguese: instrumental
Latin American Spanish: instrumental
British English: instrumental NOUN
Instrumentals are pieces of instrumental music.
After a couple of brief instrumentals, he puts his guitar down.
American English: instrumental
Brazilian Portuguese: instrumental
Chinese: 起作用的
European Spanish: pieza instrumental
French: morceau de musique instrumentale
German: Instrumentalstück
Italian: brano strumentale
Japanese: 器楽曲
Korean: 기악곡
European Portuguese: instrumental
Latin American Spanish: pieza instrumental
Chinese translation of 'instrumental'
instrumental
(ɪnstruˈmɛntl)
adj
[music, piece]乐(樂)器的 (yuèqì de)
n(c)
(= piece of music) 器乐(樂) (qìyuè)
to be instrumental in (doing) sth在(做)某事中起到关(關)键(鍵)作用 (zài (zuò) mǒushì zhōng qǐ dào guānjiàn zuòyòng)
(adjective)
Definition
helping to cause
He was instrumental in the release of some of the hostages.
Synonyms
active
Having an active youngster about the house can be quite wearing.
involved
influential
He had been influential in shaping economic policy.
useful
The police gained useful information about the organisation.
helpful
The catalogue includes helpful information.
conducive
Make your bedroom as conducive to sleep as possible.
contributory
of help or service
Additional synonyms
in the sense of conducive
Definition
likely to lead to or produce (a result)
Make your bedroom as conducive to sleep as possible.
Synonyms
favourable,
helpful,
productive,
contributory,
calculated to produce,
leading,
tending,
contributive,
promotive
in the sense of helpful
The catalogue includes helpful information.
Synonyms
useful,
practical,
productive,
profitable,
constructive,
serviceable
in the sense of influential
Definition
having or exerting influence
He had been influential in shaping economic policy.