English dictionary



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English adjective: essential

1. essential absolutely necessary; vitally necessary


SamplesEssential tools and materials.
Funds essential to the completion of the project.
An indispensable worker.


Synonymsindispensable


Similarnecessary


Antonymsunnecessary, unneeded

2. essential basic and fundamental


SamplesThe essential feature.


Similarbasal, biogenic, constituent, constitutional, constitutive, life-sustaining, must, no-frills, organic, primary, staple, substantial, substantive, virtual, vital


See alsocrucial, important, important, indispensable, intrinsic, intrinsical, necessary, of import, primary, unexpendable


Attributeessentiality, essentialness


Antonymsinessential, unessential

3. essential of the greatest importance


SamplesThe all-important subject of disarmament.
Crucial information.
In chess cool nerves are of the essence.


Synonymsall important, all-important, crucial, of the essence


Similarimportant, of import


Antonymsunimportant

4. essential being or relating to or containing the essence of a plant etc


SamplesEssential oil.

5. essential defining rights and duties as opposed to giving the rules by which rights and duties are established


SamplesSubstantive law.


Synonymssubstantive


Domain categoryjurisprudence, law


Antonymsadjective, procedural


English noun: essential

1. essential (object) anything indispensable


SamplesFood and shelter are necessities of life.
The essentials of the good life.
Allow farmers to buy their requirements under favorable conditions.
A place where the requisites of water fuel and fodder can be obtained.


Synonymsnecessary, necessity, requirement, requisite


Broader (hypernym)thing


Narrower (hyponym)desideratum, must, need, want


Antonymsinessential, nonessential









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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