bare essentials

plural noun

: the things that are absolutely necessary
We only had enough room to pack the bare essentials.

Examples of bare essentials in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ashley Basile’s spare set—table and chairs, green couch—quietly evokes lives pared down to their bare essentials. Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 24 July 2026 The bodywork is stripped down to the bare essentials, exposing much of the frame and mechanical hardware beneath. Utkarsh Sood june 28, New Atlas, 28 June 2026 The Corsair Web Hub offers the bare essentials. Alice Jovanee, PC Magazine, 20 June 2026 And though the credit is touted by some as a tool to help families save, many say it’s needed just to cover the bare essentials. Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bare essentials

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bare essentials.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bare%20essentials. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!