essential
/ɪˈsen.ʃəl/Very important and necessary. If something is essential, you need it or cannot do well without it. It often sounds stronger than "important" and is common in study, work, and everyday English.
- Water is essential for life.
- Good sleep is essential before an exam.
- Teamwork is essential in this job.
A basic thing that is necessary. In plural, "essentials" means the most needed things, especially for travel, school, or daily life.
- Pack the essentials first.
- Food and medicine are the essentials.
- I only bought the essentials.
Adinary Nuance
Essential is stronger than important. Use important for something helpful or valuable, but use essential for something you really need. It is close to necessary, but essential often sounds more serious and more formal. In writing, essential is a good choice when you want to stress that something cannot be left out.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thiết yếu
- Spanish
- esencial
- Chinese
- 必不可少
- Japanese
- 不可欠な
- Korean
- 필수적인
Etymology
From Latin essentialis, from essentia meaning "being" or "nature." It came into English in the late Middle Ages through French and Latin.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is "essential" more formal than "important"?
- Yes, usually. "Essential" sounds stronger and a little more formal than "important".
- What is the difference between "essential" and "necessary"?
- They are very close. "Essential" often means the thing is more central or cannot be removed.
- Can I say "essentials" for travel items?
- Yes. People often say "travel essentials" for the things you need on a trip.
- Is "essential" common in academic writing?
- Yes. It is common in essays, reports, and exam writing.