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es·sen·tial | \ i-ˈsen(t)-shəl 
\
\Definition of essential
(Entry 1 of 2)
2a : of the utmost importance : basic, indispensable, necessary an essential requirement for admission to college
b : 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 amino acid — compare nonessential sense 2
3 : idiopathic essential disease essential hypertension
essential
nounDefinition of essential (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : something basic
the essentials of astronomy
2 : something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
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Other Words from essential
Adjective
essentialness \ i-ˈsen(t)-shəl-nəs \ noun
\ nounSynonyms & Antonyms for essential
Synonyms: Adjective
- all-important,
- critical,
- imperative,
- indispensable,
- integral,
- must-have,
- necessary,
- necessitous,
- needed,
- needful,
- required,
- requisite,
- vital
Synonyms: Noun
- condition,
- demand,
- must,
- must-have,
- necessary,
- necessity,
- need,
- needful,
- requirement,
- requisite,
- sine qua non
Antonyms: Adjective
Antonyms: Noun
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Examples of essential in a Sentence
Adjective
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. Noun
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
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective That tension is the narrative; change is essential to the tradition.
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David Cantwell, The New Yorker, "Ken Burns’s Delightful “Country Music” Gets the Big Things Mostly Right," 15 Sep. 2019 The Frenchman's ball-playing abilities are essential to the brand of football Guardiola demands from his squad.
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SI.com, "Why Aymeric Laporte's Injury Makes Liverpool Favourites for the Premier League Title," 14 Sep. 2019 Signing Scouts up for summer camp, or high-adventure trips, are essential to keeping teenagers interested in the program.
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Author: Samantha Schmidt, Kayla Epstein, Anchorage Daily News, "Lawsuits. Possible bankruptcy. Declining members. Is there a future for the Boy Scouts?," 14 Sep. 2019 Shoppers are essential to providing the core service the company offers.
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Brittany Meiling, San Diego Union-Tribune, "San Diego city attorney sues grocery delivery app Instacart in gig economy action," 13 Sep. 2019 Getting started Babak Javid knew that assembling a strong research team would be essential to his success as a new faculty member at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
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Jeffrey Mervis, Science | AAAS, "When Europeans do science in China," 11 Sep. 2019 Teen Vogue caught up with Abrams to discuss efforts to suppress the youth vote, why everyone should respond to the 2020 census, and why voting rights are essential to the success of every progressive issue.
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Seamus Kirst, Teen Vogue, "Stacey Abrams Wants You To Know That Politicians Are Trying To Keep You From Voting," 6 Sep. 2019 Nanotechnology, which is developed at the impossibly small size of one billionth of a meter, is essential to everything from more powerful chips in smartphones to finding cures for the worst diseases.
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Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, "Crazy Powerful Optical Ruler Measures All the Way Down to the Nanoscale," 6 Sep. 2019 Proponents tie passage of the bill to the road funding debate, saying easy access to gravel used for road building is essential to containing costs and stretching Michigan’s limited road dollars.
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Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, "Battle heating up over who decides whether you have a gravel pit in your backyard," 5 Sep. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Keep all of your essentials on the side of your fridge with this sleek magnetic organizer.
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Candace Braun Davison, House Beautiful, "This Kitchen's the Perfect Blend of Rustic Charm and Modern Design," 9 Sep. 2019 Look for good deals on camping essentials like headlamps, sleeping bags, and Yeti coolers.
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Megan Barber, Curbed, "Early Labor Day deals from Amazon, Walmart, and more," 8 Aug. 2019 Instead, leave room for all of your essentials and add one or two impactful pieces like a statement lamp and a family photo dressed up in a fancy frame.
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Ap Mcclatchy, The Mercury News, "How to transform a dorm room into something special," 29 July 2019 The Byzantine links of this classic silver bracelet make for an elegant upgrade to your daily jewelry essentials.
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Amanda Randone, refinery29.com, "Amazon Prime Day Just Got A Whole Lot Shinier With These Jewelry Steals," 15 July 2019 No matter what your Memorial Day Weekend plans are, pencil in some time to stock up on all your summer fashion and beauty essentials with these seriously good deals.
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Lauren Alexis Fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Best Memorial Day Sales to Shop This Weekend," 21 May 2019 Pre-sale: August 24 on the Joss & Main app
August 26 - September 4
Score free shipping and up to 80% off everything from furniture and lighting to bedding and storage essentials.
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Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, "The Labor Day Deals That Are Worth Your Time," 20 Aug. 2019 Up to 30% off: Home Depot's sale on back to school essentialsHere's another great reason to shop Home Depot today.
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Shayna Murphy, USA TODAY, "10 stores having amazing sales this weekend on home decor and essentials," 3 Aug. 2019 The simplest of the cheeses to make is farmer’s cheese, which is cheesemaking stripped to its barest essentials.
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Daniel Neman, Twin Cities, "Homemade cheese? No whey!," 31 July 2019
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for essential
essential
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of essential
(Entry 1 of 2)
: extremely important and necessary
: very basic
essential
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of essential (Entry 2 of 2)
: something that is basic or necessary : something essential
See the full definition for essential in the English Language Learners Dictionary
essential
adjectivees·sen·tial | \ i-ˈsen-shəl \
\Kids Definition of essential
(Entry 1 of 2)
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.
essential
nounKids Definition of essential (Entry 2 of 2)
: something that is basic or necessary
I packed the bare essentials for the trip.
essential
adjectivees·sen·tial | \ i-ˈsen-chəl \
\Medical 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
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