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
Kind of reminds me of the Slate truck that’s stripped down to the bare essentials.
—
New Atlas, 26 Jan. 2026
The Best Small Purses for Hands-Free Travel Days These mini purses fit the bare essentials—and little else.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026
My guess here is that Amazon’s plan is to dramatically slim down the first game into its bare essentials.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, many Americans are struggling to afford things beyond the bare essentials, according to the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2025
Inside the Atto 1: Compact electric car with smart comfort
Despite its price, the Atto 1 delivers more than the bare essentials.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
At shows like Fendi, though, the itty-bitty leather bags could barely fit a phone—perfect for those who prefer to live more minimally with the bare essentials.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 24 July 2025
We were born less than six months apart, and my mother passed down to her everything that once belonged to me, relieved, when our move to America was official, to have to pack only the bare essentials.
—Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
His daily existence has shrunk dramatically from designing buildings as an architect to occupying a 60-square-foot cell equipped with only the bare essentials: a bunk, toilet, sink, and plastic mirror.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 31 Mar. 2025
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New Atlas, 26 Jan. 2026
The Best Small Purses for Hands-Free Travel Days These mini purses fit the bare essentials—and little else.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026
My guess here is that Amazon’s plan is to dramatically slim down the first game into its bare essentials.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, many Americans are struggling to afford things beyond the bare essentials, according to the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2025
Inside the Atto 1: Compact electric car with smart comfort
Despite its price, the Atto 1 delivers more than the bare essentials.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
At shows like Fendi, though, the itty-bitty leather bags could barely fit a phone—perfect for those who prefer to live more minimally with the bare essentials.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 24 July 2025
We were born less than six months apart, and my mother passed down to her everything that once belonged to me, relieved, when our move to America was official, to have to pack only the bare essentials.
—Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
His daily existence has shrunk dramatically from designing buildings as an architect to occupying a 60-square-foot cell equipped with only the bare essentials: a bunk, toilet, sink, and plastic mirror.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bare essentials.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bare%20essentials. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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