in or near the center; of chief importance; fundamental, relating to the main part of a country or region, away from the coast

central to something, hit the bull's-eye in the central target, central casting

central nervous system, central processing unit, central bank

Formal and Informal Expressions of central

In different contexts, you can replace 'central' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'chief, fundamental, primary' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'main, key' is a commonplace synonym.

central: Explore its Definition & Usage

central Definition

1in or near the center; of chief importance; fundamental
2relating to the main part of a country or region, away from the coast

Using central: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "central" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The central idea of the book is that love conquers all.
Example
The central heating system needs to be fixed.
Example
The city is located in the central part of the country.
Example
The central government has imposed new taxes.

central Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for central

Antonyms for central

Idioms Using central

central to something
of great importance to something
Example
Effective communication is central to building a successful team.
hit the bull's-eye in the central target
to achieve exactly what was intended
Example
The marketing campaign hit the bull's-eye in the central target, resulting in a significant increase in sales.
central casting
a term used to describe someone or something that perfectly fits a stereotype or archetype
Example
He looks like he came straight out of central casting for a cowboy movie.

Phrases with central

central nervous system
the complex of nerve tissues that controls the activities of the body
Example
The disease affects the central nervous system.
central processing unit
the part of a computer in which operations are controlled and executed
Example
The CPU is the brain of the computer.
central bank
a financial institution that manages a country's monetary policy and regulates its money supply
Example
The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States.

Origins of central

from Latin 'centralis', meaning 'of or pertaining to a center'

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Summary: central in Brief

The term 'central' [ˈsɛntrəl] refers to something located in or near the center, or of chief importance. It can describe the main part of a country or region, as in 'The city is located in the central part of the country.' 'Central' extends into phrases like 'central nervous system,' and idioms like 'central casting,' denoting a perfect fit for a stereotype or archetype.