instrumental
adjective
Did you know?
An instrument is a tool, something used to construct. It's often a tool for making music. A musical saw happens to be a carpenter's tool that can be played with a violin bow (though you probably wouldn't want to play a wrench or a pair of pliers). The musical meanings of instrumental, as in "It starts with an instrumental piece" or "a jazz instrumental", are common. But the meanings "helpful", "useful", and "essential", as in "He was instrumental in getting my book published", are just as common.
Examples of instrumental in a Sentence
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
The rousing instrumental, composed by new-age musician and longtime Entertainment Tonight co-host John Tesh, has long been beloved by basketball fans of all stripes — and was even sampled in the ‘00s on songs by star rappers Nelly and Joe Budden.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 29 Oct. 2025
Kojoori was also instrumental in her work on marquee events like the Kids’ Choice Awards and the network’s presence at things like the Super Bowl, San Diego Comic-Con, and VidCon.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Hubert will play a wise woman who meets Hilary (Coco Jones) and becomes instrumental to the Banks family.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instrumental
Cite this Entry
“Instrumental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instrumental. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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instrumental
adjective
Medical Definition
instrumental
adjective
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