vital
vital — adjective
1. So important or necessary that without it, a plan, system, activity, or living t
So important or necessary that without it, a plan, system, activity, or living thing would fail or be unable to continue.
Clean drinking water is vital for the health of every community.
collocation: vital for [something]
The fire department plays a vital role in keeping the city safe.
collocation: vital role in [something]
It is vital that we finish the bridge before the rainy season begins.
Mira checked that she had her passport, a vital document for international travel.
The conference provided a vital chance for scientists to share their latest discoveries.
- essential
very close in meaning; 'vital' often implies something is needed for continued existence, while 'essential' is used more broadly for any important component.
- crucial
focuses on a decisive moment or turning point; 'vital' is broader in scope.
- critical
emphasises a situation at a point of crisis or potential failure; can carry a stronger sense of urgency than 'vital'.
- unnecessary
complete opposite; 'vital' implies necessity, while 'unnecessary' means not needed at all.
- nonessential
common in business and logistics contexts to describe something that can be done without.
文法句型
vital + noun
it is vital that + clause (subjunctive)
vital for [someone/something]
vital to [someone/something]
用法筆記
Frequently used in the pattern 'it is vital that + clause', where the verb in the that-clause is often in the subjunctive form (e.g., It is vital that every student receive training). The prepositions 'for' and 'to' introduce the purpose or beneficiary (vital for the project, vital to our success).
常見錯誤
2. Having or showing an eager, lively energy that makes a person, place, or perform
Having or showing an eager, lively energy that makes a person, place, or performance feel active and animated.
Mira's vital energy filled the room as she described her travel adventures.
collocation: vital energy
The children were still vital and playful after a long day at the theme park.
The singer's vital presence on the stage had the whole crowd on their feet.
Élise was a vital and engaging speaker who held everyone's attention from the first word.
- energetic
more common and neutral in everyday speech; 'vital' carries an additional nuance of inner life force.
- lively
focuses on outward activity and spirit; 'vital' can imply deeper, more sustained energy.
- vigorous
suggests physical strength and healthy energy; 'vital' is more often about personality and spirit.
文法句型
vital + noun
be + vital
用法筆記
Less common than sense 1 (ESSENTIAL); this meaning can sound formal or literary. In everyday conversation, 'energetic' or 'lively' are more natural alternatives.
常見錯誤
3. Connected with the basic biological functions and processes that keep living bei
Connected with the basic biological functions and processes that keep living beings alive, such as the beating of the heart or the flow of blood through the body.
The brain is the most vital organ, controlling everything the body does.
collocation: vital organ
Nurses monitored Obi's vital signs throughout the night after his surgery.
collocation: vital signs
The lungs perform the vital task of supplying oxygen to the blood.
Plant cells carry out vital functions like absorbing water and converting sunlight into energy.
- life-sustaining
more literal and descriptive; 'vital' is more common as a compact medical term.
- biological
broader in scope; 'vital' specifically relates to processes necessary for staying alive.
- non-living
in biological contexts, describes matter or processes unrelated to life.
文法句型
vital + noun
用法筆記
Common in medical and biological writing. Frequently appears in fixed phrases such as 'vital signs' (pulse, temperature, blood pressure, breathing rate), 'vital organs' (heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, liver), and 'vital functions' (breathing, circulation, digestion).