in·stru·men·tal1 /ˌɪnstrəˈmentl◂/ adjectiveadj 1 be instrumental in (doing) something formalIMPORTANT to be important in making something happen 对(做)某事起重要作用 He was instrumental in developing links with European organizations. 他在建立与欧洲各组织之间的联系中起了重要作用。
—instrumentally adverbadv