November 06, 2021 Word of the Day
[more essential; most essential]
Tofu is an essential source of protein for many people who don't eat meat.
Definition of ESSENTIAL
1 : extremely important and necessary
As a fighter pilot, he knows that good vision is essential.
Reservations are essential [=necessary, needed] if you plan to eat there on a Saturday.
— often + to or for
The river is essential to the region's economy.
Food is essential [=necessary] for life.
— often followed by to + verb
It is essential to use the proper technique.
It's essential to arrive on time.
— often + that
It's essential that we arrive on time.
2 : very basic : fundamental
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.
— essentially /ɪˈsɛnʃəli/ adverb [more essentially; most essentially]
All action movies have essentially [=basically, fundamentally] the same plot.
What he says is essentially true.
— essentialness /ɪˈsɛnʃəlnəs/ noun [noncount]
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