Definition of essential
2a : of the utmost importance : basic, indispensable, necessary an essential requirement for admission to collegeb : being a substance that is not synthesized by the body in a quantity sufficient for normal health and growth and that must be obtained from the diet a vegetable oil rich in essential fatty acids — see also essential fatty acid — compare nonessential 2
3 : idiopathic essential disease essential hypertension
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Examples of essential in a Sentence
As a fighter pilot, he knows that good vision is essential.
Free speech is an essential right of citizenship.
The essential problem with this plan is that it will cost too much.
There's no essential difference between the two products.
Recent Examples of essential from the Web
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U.S. policy, and that of most international groups, for decades has considered a two-state solution, where Israel and a Palestinian nation live side-by-side, as the essential basis for peace in the troubled region.
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Delta said that its essential IT systems had gone down around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, but that the system returned to normal shortly after midnight.
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In addition to these bottles, Scentsational Shoppe offers wide arrangements of glass bottles for the perfume and essential oil industry.
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But stopping the senseless slaughter so that there can be more trinkets in the world is an essential — and long-overdue — step.
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Sorry, folks, but headlines that repeat Trump claims about jobs saved, without conveying the essential fakeness of those claims, are a betrayal of journalism.
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The last wild frankincense forests on Earth are under threat as prices rise with the global appetite for essential oils.
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But such a relationship would be untenable in today’s F.B.I., which since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has become essential to counterterrorism efforts around the world.
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This also improves efficiency, which has been essential to the company's growth.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'essential'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
14th Century
First Known Use of essential
14th century
Synonym Discussion of essential
essential
Definition of essential
1 : something basic the essentials of astronomy
2 : something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
Examples of essential in a Sentence
the essentials for success include a willingness to work and the right attitude
this will be just an introduction to the essentials of computer programming
Recent Examples of essential from the Web
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-efron-dylan-efron-instagram http://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/best-back-to-school-beauty-products-locker-essentialshttp://www.teenvogue.com/story/channing-
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Beyond lodging, travel essentials include a SIM card for your phone and an Octopus pass, a rechargeable card used to get around on public transportation.
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Mr. Cornell is trying to reinvigorate sales and better appeal to younger shoppers who are increasingly buying essentials online.
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The Nepalese guards were not allowed to leave the compound, relying on local Afghan guards to fetch essentials from a nearby store.
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In it you’ll find Herban Essentials sanitizing wipes, Thieves Spray, Joanna Vargas Daily Hydrating Cream, a toothbrush—and, lately, Tatcha sheet masks.
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Trying to score high, some schools gamed the system, or simply cheated on the tests; some abandoned such essentials as the arts, gym, and even recess.
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Revival Market will continue to serve breakfast and lunch (in addition to offering its charcuterie and butcher goods, and a variety of specialty foods and everyday market essentials).
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Note-by-note recipes call on kitchen essentials like water, oil, and sodium chloride (a k a salt) and use classic techniques like frying, broiling, and baking along with molecular-gastronomy methods like dehydration and spherification.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'essential'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
15th Century
First Known Use of essential
15th century
ESSENTIAL Defined for English Language Learners
essential
playDefinition of essential for English Language Learners
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: extremely important and necessary
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: very basic
essential
Definition of essential for English Language Learners
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: something that is basic or necessary : something essential
ESSENTIAL Defined for Kids
Definition of essential for Students
1 : extremely important or necessary It is essential that we all meet here.
2 : forming or belonging to the basic part of something Free speech is an essential right of citizenship.
essentially
adverbDefinition of essential for Students
: something that is basic or necessary I packed the bare essentials for the trip.
Medical Dictionary
essential
playMedical Definition of essential
1: being, relating to, or containing an essence an essential odor
2: being a substance that is not synthesized by the body in a quantity sufficient for normal health and growth and that must be obtained from the diet The body converts linoleic acid—an essential fatty acid that makes up 60 percent of corn oil—into arachidonic acid.—Janet Raloff, Science News, 24 June 1989—see essential amino acid; compare nonessential
3: having no obvious or known cause : idiopathic essential disease
Learn More about essential
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for essential Spanish Central: Translation of essential Nglish: Translation of essential for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of essential for Arabic speakers
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