essaynoun [ C ]
uk/ˈes.eɪ/us/ˈes.eɪ/UK US paperB1 a short piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one done by students as part of the work for a course:
For homework I want you to write an essay on endangered species.
Mr Jones thought my history essay was terrific.
More examples
- I want to finish off this essay before I go to bed.
- His essay was full of spelling errors.
- Have you given that essay in yet?
- Have you handed in your history essay yet?
- I'd like to discuss the first point in your essay.
essayverb [ T ]
uk/eˈseɪ/us/eˈseɪ/old-fashionedto try to do something:
The procedure was first essayed in 1923.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Trying and making an effort
- a blitz on sth idiom
- all-out
- assault
- attempt
- attempted
- bid
- crack
- go to great lengths idiom
- God helps those who help themselves idiom
- grasp at sth
- grope
- grope for sth
- push
- shoot
- stick
- stretch a/the point idiom
- strive
- strove
- succeed
- suck
See more results »