Central/ˈsentrəl/ Definition 1 of 4Pro Tip 1/3Symbolic Importance Used to describe ideas or themes with significant meaning in a context. Her role was central to the story's message. Pro Tip 2/3Not Literal Doesn't always mean physically in the middle, but rather the most important. The central problem of the experiment was the faulty hypothesis. Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use Can indicate the main focus in an abstract concept. His central belief is that everyone deserves respect.