essay

1 of 2

noun

es·​say ˈe-ˌsā 

senses 2, 3 & 4 also

e-ˈsā 

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

essay

2 of 2

verb

es·​say e-ˈsā 

ə-ˈsā,

ˈe-ˌsā 

essayed; essaying; essays

transitive verb

1

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

2

: to put to a test

essayer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• article

Verb

• attempt
• try
• strive

Choose the Right Synonym for essay

attempt, try, endeavor, essay, strive mean to make an effort to accomplish an end.

attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.

will attempt to photograph the rare bird

try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.

tried to determine which was the better procedure

endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.

endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains

essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.

will essay a dramatic role for the first time

strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.

continues to strive for peace

Examples of essay in a Sentence

Noun

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The book is a collection of his previously unpublished essays on a variety of topics.

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Because, in fact, I am usually immediately swayed by whatever intellectual fashion is in the air, and a first draft of any essay is more often than not a cynical and dutiful rehashing of the argument du jour. —Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

This horror at effeminacy echoes across Baldwin’s novels and essays. —Garth Greenwell, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Verb

In the film, Bajpayee plays the police officer while Jim Sarbh essays the role of the killer who goes by the fictional name Carl Bhojraj. —Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

Both, it could be argued, as a producer and writer have only hit full stride and an international reach in TV with the advent of streamers, notably Netflix and Movistar Plus+, and the reaction of incumbent broadcasters in Spain, essaying series which aimed to combine broad audiences with a TV edge. —John Hopewell, Variety, 25 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing essay

• essay question
• photo-essay

Rhymes for essay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

essay

1 of 2 verb

es·​say e-ˈsā  ˈes-ˌā 

: attempt entry 1 sense 1, try

again essayed to ride on the camel

essay

2 of 2 noun

es·​say ˈes-ˌā 

in sense 1 also

e-ˈsā 

1

: attempt entry 2 sense 1, try

especially : an uncertain or hesitant effort

2

: a usually short written work giving a personal view or opinion on a subject