essay

noun es·say \ ˈe-ˌsā ; senses 2, 3 & 4 also e-ˈsā \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Definition of essay

1 a : an analytic or interpretative literary composition usually dealing with its subject from a limited or personal point of view

b : something resembling such a composition

a photographic essay

2 a : effort, attempt; especially : an initial tentative effort

b : the result or product of an attempt

3 : a proof of an unaccepted design for a stamp or piece of paper money

4 obsolete : trial, test

See essay defined for English-language learners

Examples of essay in a Sentence

Your assignment is to write a 500-word essay on one of Shakespeare's sonnets.
The book is a collection of his previously unpublished essays on a variety of topics.

Recent Examples of essay from the Web

Brown officials said the essay requirement may pose an impediment to students from low-income families.

— debbie truong, Washington Post, "Brown University becomes latest college to drop SAT, ACT essay for applicants," 12 July 2018
Brown officials said the essay requirement may pose an impediment to students from low-income families.

— debbie truong, chicagotribune.com, "Brown University becomes latest college to drop SAT, ACT essay for applicants," 12 July 2018
An important part of this divide is that universities have long been seen as a place for academic subjects, calling for essays and equations.

— The Economist, "A welcome upgrade to apprenticeships," 12 July 2018
This article is adapted from an essay that originally ran on Medium.

— elizabeth greenwood, Vox, "How to date a prisoner," 2 July 2018
After all, the archives have been reduced from the pantheon of literature and books to essays and pamphlets to speeches and op-eds.

— alexander heffner, Time, "The American Historical Record Includes Court Cases, Famous Speeches—And Trump’s Tweets. Here’s Why That Matters," 2 July 2018
Until this week, Jeff Flake was best known as the anti-Trump Republican senator who would take on the GOP president with tweets and essays — but never with the immense powers of his office.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "The Fate of Abortion Rights in America May Now Lie With These Senators," 27 June 2018
An essay is a story, and a teen’s grandparents, or grandparents of one of their friends, will have many of them.

— jennifer winward, Anchorage Daily News, "Five old-school skills that kids should learn from their grandparents instead of YouTube," 26 June 2018
When Losing Weight Is the Unhealthy Choice: Essay Series Guest editor Ijeoma Oluo assigned and edited four essays loosely tied to the theme of choosing not to lose weight.

— carolyn kylstra, SELF, "The Weight Issue: A Letter from the Editor," 25 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'essay.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of essay

Middle French essai, ultimately from Late Latin exagium act of weighing, from Latin ex- + agere to drive — more at agent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 4

See Words from the same year

essay Synonyms

Synonyms

attempt, bid, crack, endeavor, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirl;

trial and error;

essay

verb es·say \ e-ˈsā , ə-ˈsā , ˈe-ˌsā \

Definition of essay

transitive verb

1 : to make an often tentative or experimental effort to perform : try

2 : to put to a test

—

essayer

noun

See essay defined for English-language learners

See essay defined for kids

Examples of essay in a Sentence

There is no hint as to which of the approaches essayed in this book will prove most useful.
he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move