Something that is essential is extremely important or absolutely necessary to a particular subject, situation, or activity.
It was absolutely essential to separate crops from the areas that animals used aspasture.
As they must also sprint over short distances, speed is essential.
Jordan promised to trim the city budget without cutting essential services.
2. countable noun [usually plural]
The essentials are the things that are absolutely necessary for the situation you are in or forthe task you are doing.
The flat contained the basic essentials for bachelor life. [+ for]
3. adjective
The essential aspects of something are its most basic or important aspects.
Most authorities agree that play is an essential part of a child's development.
In this trial two essential elements must be proven: motive and opportunity.
Synonyms: fundamental, main, basic, radical More Synonyms of essential
4. plural noun
The essentials are the most important principles, ideas, or facts of a particular subject.
...the essentials of everyday life, such as eating and exercise. [+ of]
This has stripped the contest down to its essentials.
...the bare essentials.
Synonyms: prerequisite, principle, fundamental, necessity More Synonyms of essential
More Synonyms of essential
essential in British English
(ɪˈsɛnʃəl)
adjective
1.
vitally important; absolutely necessary
2.
basic; fundamental
the essential feature
3.
completely realized; absolute; perfect
essential beauty
4. biochemistry
(of an amino acid or a fatty acid) necessary for the normal growth of an organism but not synthesized by the organism and therefore required in the diet
5.
derived from or relating to an extract of a plant, drug, etc
an essential oil
6. logic
(of a property) guaranteed by the identity of the subject; necessary. Thus, if having the atomic number 79 is an essential property of gold, nothing can be gold unless it has that atomic number
7. music
denoting or relating to a note that belongs to the fundamental harmony of a chord or piece
8. pathology
(of a disease) having no obvious external cause
essential hypertension
9. geology
(of a mineral constituent of a rock) necessary for defining the classification of a rock. Its absence alters the rock's name and classification
noun
10.
something fundamental or indispensable
a sharp eye is an essential for a printer
11. music
an essential note
Derived forms
essentiality (ɪˌsɛnʃɪˈælɪtɪ) or essentialness (esˈsentialness)
noun
essential in American English
(əˈsɛnʃəl; ɪˈsɛnʃəl)
adjective
1.
of or constituting the intrinsic, fundamental nature of something; basic; inherent
an essential difference
2.
absolute; complete; perfect
3.
absolutely necessary; indispensable; requisite
4.
containing, or having the properties of, a concentrated extract of a plant, drug, food, etc.
an essential oil
5. Biochemistry
needed for life or health but not synthesized within the body, as an amino acid or vitamin that must be consumed
noun
6.
something necessary or fundamental; indispensable, inherent, or basic feature or principle
SYNONYMY NOTE: essential, in strict usage, is applicable to that which constitutes the absolute essence orthe fundamental nature of a thing and therefore must be present for the thing to exist,function, etc. [food is essential to life]; an indispensable person or thing cannot be done without if the specified or implied purpose is tobe achieved; , requisite is applied to that which is required by the circumstances or for the purpose andgenerally suggests a requirement that is imposed externally rather than an inherentneed [the requisite experience for a position]; necessary implies a pressing need but does not always connote absolute indispensability
Derived forms
essentially (esˈsentially)
adverb
Word origin
ME essencial < LL essentialis: see essence
Examples of 'essential' in a sentence
essential
The ability to switch between providers is essential and must be based on clear standards.
Computing (2010)
Many early users limited their cloud initiatives to dull but essential tasks such as email filtering and archiving.
Computing (2010)
In such situations, life is reduced to its bare essentials.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's one of those quietly essential life forms.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The rest consider it essential or at least desirable, and rightly so.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When you digest a protein, essential amino acids are absorbed.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is, for a short time at least, a return to a more essential way of life.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Many of life 's essentials and luxuries are restricted in jail, but only rarely has a prison had to ban sugar and fruit.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Certain mineral elements are essential for life.
Sedgbeer, Sandra The A-Z of Beauty Treatment (1994)
But the essential task is the scrum.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
What you consider to be essentials may be deemed excessive expenditure by lenders.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The elephants come to the clearing in their dozens to swallow mineral salts essential to their diet.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
These are called the essential amino acids.
Chapman, C. & Horsley, M. & Small, E. Technology Basic Facts (1990)
What would you throw together from a fridge with only bare essentials in it?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
So it is not the whole answer but it is essential we do something fast.
The Sun (2009)
Whole spices benefit from an initial warming to help release their essential oils.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Writing a business plan is an essential exercise for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
School libraries are essential and they must be well stocked to encourage intelligent browsing.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Both oxygen and glucose are essential for life and health.
Youngson, Dr. Robert The Antioxidant Health Plan (1994)
What are the essentials for a considered life and what may be discarded?
Christopher Ross TUNNEL VISIONS: Journeys of an Underground Philosopher (2001)
Now dry shampoo is making its return as a beauty kit essential.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
These acts offer what could become essential forms of resistance in a culture of increasing isolation.
Christianity Today (2000)
Essentials checks the basics and is suitable for the more knowledgeable buyer of cars under ten years old.
The Sun (2008)
Around half of those who use night buses are poorly paid workers who do essential but menial tasks.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Sport and activity are equally essential.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
At full strength this pack has it in them to be as effective as any team in world rugby at the essential contact situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
What the meal does provide are foods containing valuable vitamins and essential fats -- important for emotional and mental health.
Colette Harris, With Theresa Cheung PCOS DIET BOOK: How you can use the nutritional approach to deal with polycysticovary syndrome (2002)
In other languages
essential
British English: essential /ɪˈsɛnʃəl/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is essential is absolutely necessary.
It is essential that you take my advice.
American English: essential
Arabic: ضَرُورِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: essencial
Chinese: 必要的
Croatian: ključno
Czech: nezbytný
Danish: essentiel
Dutch: essentieel
European Spanish: esencial
Finnish: välttämätön
French: essentiel
German: wesentlich
Greek: ουσιαστικός
Italian: essenziale
Japanese: 最も重要な
Korean: 근본적인
Norwegian: vesentlig
Polish: zasadniczy
European Portuguese: essencial
Romanian: esențial
Russian: существенный
Latin American Spanish: esencial
Swedish: väsentlig
Thai: ซึ่งสำคัญ
Turkish: zorunlu
Ukrainian: істотний
Vietnamese: thiết yếu
British English: essential NOUN
The essentials are the things that are absolutely necessary for the situation you are in or for the task you are doing.
The flat contained the basic essentials for bachelor life.
American English: essential
Brazilian Portuguese: elemento essencial
Chinese: 要素
European Spanish: punto esencial
French: essentiel
German: Notwendigste
Italian: elemento essenziale
Japanese: 不可欠なもの
Korean: 필수 요소
European Portuguese: elemento essencial
Latin American Spanish: lo esencial
All related terms of 'essential'
essential oil
any of various volatile organic oils present in plants, usually containing terpenes and esters and having the odour or flavour of the plant from which they are extracted : used in flavouring and perfumery
non-essential
Non-essential means not absolutely necessary .
essential fact
Facts are pieces of information that can be discovered .
essential items
An item is one of a collection or list of objects.
essential skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge .
essential step
A step is one of a series of actions that you take in order to achieve something.
essential tool
You can refer to anything that you use for a particular purpose as a particular type of tool .
essential element
any chemical element required by an organism for healthy growth . It may be required in large amounts ( macronutrient ) or in very small amounts ( trace element)
essential nutrient
Nutrients are substances that help plants and animals to grow.
essential reading
Reading is the activity of reading books.
essential vitamin
Vitamins are substances that you need in order to remain healthy , which are found in food or can be eaten in the form of pills .
essential information
Information about someone or something consists of facts about them.
essential ingredients
An ingredient of a situation is one of the essential parts of it.
essential requirement
A requirement is a quality or qualification that you must have in order to be allowed to do something or to be suitable for something.
essential amino acid
an amino acid that cannot be synthesized in the body and is thus an essential component of the diet
essential fatty acid
any fatty acid required by the body in manufacturing prostaglandins , found in such foods as oily fish and nuts
Chinese translation of 'essential'
essential
(ɪˈsɛnʃl)
adj
(= necessary, vital) 必要的 (bìyào de)
(= basic) 基本的 (jīběn de)
it is essential that ... ... 是必要的 ( ... shì bìyào de)
it is essential to ... 必须(須) ... (bìxū ... )
Derived Forms
essentialsn pl (= necessities) 必需品 (bìxūpǐn)
1 (adjective)
Definition
vitally important
It is absolutely essential that we find this man quickly.
Synonyms
vital
a blockade which could cut off vital oil and gas supplies
important
an important economic challenge to the government
needed
necessary
Is your journey really necessary?
Please make all the necessary arrangements.
critical
The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign.
crucial (informal)
the most crucial election campaign in years
key
indispensable
She was becoming indispensable to him.
requisite
She filled in the requisite paperwork.
vitally important
must-have
Opposites
unnecessary
,
trivial
,
unimportant
,
inessential
2 (adjective)
Definition
basic or fundamental
Two essential elements must be proven: motive and opportunity.
Synonyms
fundamental
the fundamental principles of democracy
main
My main concern now is to protect the children.
basic
Access to justice is a basic right.
radical
the radical differences between them
key
principal
Their principal concern is that of winning the next election.
constitutional
cardinal
The cardinal rule is to do everything you can to satisfy the customer.
inherent
the dangers inherent in an outbreak of war
elementary
Literacy now includes elementary computer skills.
innate
As a race, they have an innate sense of fairness.
hard-wired
intrinsic
Diamonds have little intrinsic value.
elemental
the elemental theory of music
immanent
hierarchy as the immanent principle of Western society
Opposites
extra
,
secondary
,
surplus
,
accessory
,
lesser
,
optional
,
incidental
,
superfluous
,
extraneous
,
expendable
,
dispensable
,
nonessential
3 (adjective)
essential oils used in aromatherapy
Synonyms
concentrated
extracted
refined
refined sugar
volatile
rectified
distilled
4 (adjective)
Synonyms
perfect
She behaved like a perfect fool.
complete
He made me look like a complete idiot.
ideal
She decided I was the ideal person to take over this job.
absolute
A sick person needs to have absolute trust in a doctor.
quintessential
Everybody thinks of him as the quintessential New Yorker.
(noun)
Definition
something fundamental or indispensable
the essentials of everyday life, such as food and water
Synonyms
prerequisite
Good self-esteem is a prerequisite for a happy life.
principle
fundamental
necessity
Water is a basic necessity of life.
must
A visit to the motor museum is a must.
basic
requisite
a major requisite for the work of the analysts
vital part
sine qua non (Latin)
rudiment
must-have
Additional synonyms
in the sense of absolute
Definition
total and complete
A sick person needs to have absolute trust in a doctor.
Synonyms
complete,
total,
perfect,
entire,
pure,
sheer,
utter,
outright,
thorough,
downright,
consummate,
unqualified,
full-on (informal),
out-and-out,
unadulterated,
unmitigated,
dyed-in-the-wool,
thoroughgoing,
unalloyed,
unmixed,
arrant (derogatory),
deep-dyed
in the sense of basic
Definition
of or forming a base or basis
Access to justice is a basic right.
Synonyms
fundamental,
main,
key,
essential,
primary,
vital,
principal,
constitutional,
cardinal,
inherent,
elementary,
indispensable,
innate,
intrinsic,
elemental,
immanent
in the sense of cardinal
Definition
fundamentally important
The cardinal rule is to do everything you can to satisfy the customer.