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capital

capital

4 4.0
More important than other things
  • adjective
  • /ˈkæpɪtl/
  • Formal
: fundamental
  • Of those who favor capital punishment, not all would agree that retribution is their motive.

And that's why it's such a capital vice.

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Examples

  • Education is the capital factor in shaping a child's future.

  • Fifty-four percent of voters rejected the ballot measure to abolish capital punishment in the state.

    Blog text (23)
  • The most important aim of capital punishment, in Mencken's opinion, is revenge.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Trust is capital in building strong relationships.

  • The CEO emphasized that innovation is a capital priority for the company.

Synonyms

main
vscapital
∞ 1.0

Most important or central in a situation

is about greatest importance in general rather than a single element
chief
vscapital
991 3.2

The main thing that matters most

is the general term for greatest importance rather than just priority
primary
vscapital
691 2.5

Being most important or basic

focuses on overall greatest importance rather than basic foundation
central
vscapital
493 2.1

Very important and needed for something to work

refers to greatest importance overall rather than core position
principal
vscapital
168 2.8

Most important person or thing in a situation

is about greatest overall importance rather than formal rank
foremost
vscapital
154 4.2

Most important in a group or area

is the general term for greatest importance rather than being outstanding
premier
vscapital
64 4.5

Most important or best in a group of similar things

means greatest importance generally rather than formal top ranking
paramount
vscapital
45 6.7

More important than anything else

states great importance but not necessarily above everything

Antonyms

243 3.5

Less important than the main thing or coming after it

50 1.9

Not worth attention or notice

Compounds

capital gain
  • Specialized
94 5.4

An increase in value when you sell something for more than you paid

52 4.2

The legal killing of someone by the government for a serious crime

capital gains tax
  • Specialized
45 5.4

A tax on the profit you make when you sell things like stocks or property

venture capital
  • Specialized
36 4.6

Money people invest in new companies that are risky to help them grow

28 2.8

A city where the state government has its main offices

9 8.2

A crime so serious that the law can punish with death

Large letters that start sentences and names

capital cost
  • Specialized
7 3.6

Money spent to buy things like machines or buildings for a business

cost of capital
  • Specialized
5 7.2

The minimum return a business needs on an investment to keep its market value and attract money

A city where a province has its main government offices

working capital
  • Specialized
5 4.4

Money and things a business can use to pay day-to-day costs

capital expenditure
  • Specialized
5 6.4

Money a business spends to buy or improve things like buildings, machines and equipment that last a long time

A city that is the main center for an area worldwide, like fashion or finance

The city Jerusalem that Israel says is its capital, though many countries do not recognize this

A city where a country's government and leaders work

capital ship
  • Specialized
2 7.9

A very large warship like a battleship or aircraft carrier with heavy weapons

capital loss
  • Specialized
2 6.0

A loss when you sell something like a house or stock for less than you paid

A large letter that you use at the start of a sentence or name

2 6.7

Money a company keeps from profits to use for special or unexpected costs that cannot be paid to shareholders

risk capital
  • Specialized
1 6.0

Money available to invest in new businesses that may lose money

capital stock
  • Specialized
1 5.9

The total number or value of a company's shares that it can issue to owners

operating capital
  • Specialized
1 4.1

Money a business uses to pay its daily costs

A city called Port-au-Prince that is the largest city and capital of Haiti

capital account
  • Specialized
1 6.6

Part of a country's balance of payments showing money coming in and out for investments and loans

capital account
  • Specialized
1 6.3

Record showing a business's net worth on a certain date, including owner investments and withdrawals

1 5.3

A percent showing how well a company makes profit from the money put into it

personal capital
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A person's skills, knowledge, contacts, and reputation that help them succeed

small capital
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A letter that looks like a big letter but is the height of a small letter used for emphasis

A city called Phnom Penh that is the capital and largest city of Cambodia

The capital city of Mexico, called Mexico City, where the government and main businesses are

The main city of Greece, Athens, is famous for ancient ruins and lively culture

An uppercase letter written clearly and not joined to other letters often used on forms

The main city of Algeria on the Mediterranean coast called Algiers

capital levy
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A one-time tax on money and property to raise funds for the government

borrowed capital
  • Specialized
1 4.8

Money a business gets from others that it must pay back with interest

capital cost
  • Specialized
1 6.6

How much a business pays to use money for investment

A city in southeast Australia that is the country's capital, Canberra

The main city where the government of Honduras is located

active capital
  • Specialized
1 4.9

Money or property that can be quickly turned into cash and used in business

The main city of Malta where the government is based

A city in the southeast of Jamaica called Kingston that is the country's capital

A city that leads global fashion and sets style trends

How Important

capital
  • Formal
4 4.0
major
∞ 1.0
important
∞ 1.0
minor
497 2.4
insignificant
102 4.1

Surface Forms

capital positive
capitaler comparative
capitalest superlative

Etymology

Capital comes from the Latin word caput, which means 'head'. So capital originally meant the 'head' or chief thing, and that is why it now describes something of greatest importance.