essay
1 of 2noun
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 2verb
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
- composition
- paper
- theme
Verb
- assay
- attempt
- endeavor
- seek
- strive
- try
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 The book is a collection of his previously unpublished essays on a variety of topics.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
Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 In September of 2021, a group of current and former Blue Origin employees penned a collective essay accusing the company of a toxic work environment, as well as alleging safety issues. Loren Grush, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2022 Anne Applebaum, a historian of the Gulag, has written an essay for The Atlantic on the psychology of collaborating with authoritarianism, with the Trumpist example in the foreground of her vision. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 Here are the sixth through eighth grade essay contest winners for the 2021-22 year. Hartford Courant, 9 Sep. 2022 Critic Elvis Mitchell makes his directorial debut with this Netflix essay-documentary about Black filmmaking in the ‘70s — not just Blaxploitation, but also the work of Charles Burnett, Ivan Dixon, and others. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022 Before the committee decided to overturn the ban, Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing, an ambassador for the swim cap company, penned a thoughtful essay for The Guardian on how the rule put her and other Black swimmers at a disadvantage. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 This essay was intended merely to explain the importance of these tasks. Norman B. Gildin, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 The book has a typically brilliant essay from Questlove on discovering the band through their call and response with African-American music: fun, rap, soul. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2022 Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2022 And the idea of this superhero factory peaking as a commercial juggernaut must be appealing to people who printed and framed that Martin Scorsese essay about the difference between Marvel movies and cinematic art. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2022 But as his career progressed over the decades, Caan would repeatedly essay characters with a penchant for violence. Carmel Dagan, Variety, 7 July 2022 But as his career progressed over the decades, Caan would repeatedly essay characters with a penchant for violence. Carmel Dagan, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2022 Why not essay contests in high schools and community colleges on the benefits of voting, with scholarships for the winners? Steve Lopezcolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2022 Youth Speak Out, essay writing for individual students, and Youth Sing Out, songwriting for classrooms. Carol Kovach, cleveland, 26 Apr. 2022 These are the full contest rules for Outside’s survival stories essay contest. The Editors, Outside Online, 22 Sep. 2021 Meyers Taylor wrote in a recent USA Today essay that competing in the Beijing Olympics, despite human-rights concerns in the country, was important to her. Rachel Bachman, WSJ, 1 Feb. 2022 See More
Noun
The public can nominate a potential hall of famer online with an essay of 50 words or fewer, explaining why someone is worthy of the honor. Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 In September of 2021, a group of current and former Blue Origin employees penned a collective essay accusing the company of a toxic work environment, as well as alleging safety issues. Loren Grush, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2022 Anne Applebaum, a historian of the Gulag, has written an essay for The Atlantic on the psychology of collaborating with authoritarianism, with the Trumpist example in the foreground of her vision. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 Here are the sixth through eighth grade essay contest winners for the 2021-22 year. Hartford Courant, 9 Sep. 2022 Critic Elvis Mitchell makes his directorial debut with this Netflix essay-documentary about Black filmmaking in the ‘70s — not just Blaxploitation, but also the work of Charles Burnett, Ivan Dixon, and others. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022 Before the committee decided to overturn the ban, Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing, an ambassador for the swim cap company, penned a thoughtful essay for The Guardian on how the rule put her and other Black swimmers at a disadvantage. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 This essay was intended merely to explain the importance of these tasks. Norman B. Gildin, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 The book has a typically brilliant essay from Questlove on discovering the band through their call and response with African-American music: fun, rap, soul. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2022 Verb
Leah Stokes, an associate professor of political science at UC Santa Barbara, wrote in a New York Times guest essay that the stakes of further delay could not be higher. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2022 And the idea of this superhero factory peaking as a commercial juggernaut must be appealing to people who printed and framed that Martin Scorsese essay about the difference between Marvel movies and cinematic art. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2022 But as his career progressed over the decades, Caan would repeatedly essay characters with a penchant for violence. Carmel Dagan, Variety, 7 July 2022 But as his career progressed over the decades, Caan would repeatedly essay characters with a penchant for violence. Carmel Dagan, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2022 Why not essay contests in high schools and community colleges on the benefits of voting, with scholarships for the winners? Steve Lopezcolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2022 Youth Speak Out, essay writing for individual students, and Youth Sing Out, songwriting for classrooms. Carol Kovach, cleveland, 26 Apr. 2022 These are the full contest rules for Outside’s survival stories essay contest. The Editors, Outside Online, 22 Sep. 2021 Meyers Taylor wrote in a recent USA Today essay that competing in the Beijing Olympics, despite human-rights concerns in the country, was important to her. Rachel Bachman, WSJ, 1 Feb. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
essay
noun
es·say ˈe-ˌsā
: a short piece of writing that tells a person's thoughts or opinions about a subject
essay 1 of 2
noun
1
as in article
a short piece of writing typically expressing a point of view school essays on what it means to be a patriot Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- article
- paper
- dissertation
- thesis
- treatise
- theme
- editorial
- composition
- column
- commentary
- report
- study
- write-up
- feature
- review
- discussion
- discourse
- causerie
- prolegomenon
- tract
- exposition
2
as in attempt
an effort to do or accomplish something my first essay at baking a cake did not go well Synonyms & Similar Words
- attempt
- try
- endeavor
- go
- stab
- assay
- bid
- offer
- shot
- pass
- trial
- undertaking
- fling
- struggle
- crack
- striving
- bash
- whack
- whirl
- throes
- trial and error
3
as in test
a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty a little homemade essay to determine the easiest way to strip the paint from the bookcase Synonyms & Similar Words
- test
- experiment
- experimentation
- trial
- practice
- try
- effort
- rehearsal
- attempt
- crucible
- exercise
- trial and error
- dry run
- ordeal
- tryout
- practise
- workout
- shakedown
essay
2 of 2verb
as in to attempt
to make an effort to do he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move Synonyms & Similar Words
- attempt
- try
- strive
- assay
- endeavor
- work
- shoot for
- shoot at
- seek
- struggle
- hope
- aim
- have a go at
- trouble
- try one's hand (at)
- fight
- toil
- undertake
- aspire
- take up
- strain
- assume
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- quit
- drop
- give up
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of essay are attempt, endeavor, strive, and try. While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.
will essay a dramatic role for the first time
While the synonyms attempt and essay are close in meaning, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.
will attempt to photograph the rare bird
Although the words endeavor and essay have much in common, endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.
endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains
While in some cases nearly identical to essay, strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.
continues to strive for peace
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