essential
gb/ɪsˈɛnʃəl/ us/ɪsˈɛnʃəl/
B1
English
~ 1200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Completely necessary or very important
Very important and needed; you cannot do without it.
Usage pattern:
[something] is essential for/to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'essential' with 'important'. While all essentials are important, 'essential' means absolutely necessary, not just helpful.
Synonyms
crucial (Slightly more urgent or decisive in tone, often used for critical moments.)
|
vital (Emphasizes necessity for survival or success.)
Antonyms
optional (Implies something is not required.)
|
unnecessary (Direct opposite, meaning not needed at all.)
Collocations
absolutely essential
|essential part
|essential requirement
|essential information
|essential skills
Themes
daily life
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Water is essential for all forms of life.
- It is essential to wear a helmet when riding a bike.
- Good communication is essential to a healthy relationship.
- Experience in customer service is essential for this job.
Learner examples
- Water is essential for people and animals.
- A passport is essential for travel to another country.
- It is essential to eat healthy food every day.
- Good shoes are essential for running.
Noun
B1
entity
2
A basic and necessary thing
Something that is very important and needed.
Usage pattern:
the essentials of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'essentials' to describe luxuries they personally value; it should mean things truly needed.
Synonyms
necessity (General term for something needed; can be less absolute in some contexts.)
Antonyms
luxury (Something desirable but not necessary.)
Collocations
basic essentials
|carry the essentials
|pack the essentials
|the bare essentials
Themes
daily life
|travel
|survival
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She packed only the essentials for the trip.
- Food, water, and shelter are essentials for survival.
- Understanding the essentials of grammar is important for writing well.
Learner examples
- We bought the essentials for the picnic.
- Water is one of the essentials of life.
- I only carry the essentials in my bag.
adjective
B2
property
3
Belonging to the basic nature of something
Part of the basic nature of something; cannot be removed without changing it.
Usage pattern:
an essential part/feature of [something]
Synonyms
intrinsic (More formal, emphasizes being inherent by nature.)
Antonyms
accidental (Formal term meaning not part of the inherent nature.)
Collocations
essential quality
|essential feature
|essential character
Themes
philosophy
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Freedom of speech is an essential feature of democracy.
- Patience is an essential quality in a good teacher.
- Understanding is essential to any successful relationship.
Learner examples
- Air is an essential part of life.
- Kindness is an essential part of being a good friend.
- Water is an essential part of our body.
Grammar
Dictionary form
essential
IPA
GB/ɪsˈɛnʃəl/
US/ɪsˈɛnʃəl/
Syllables & stress
es - sen - tial (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sen)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: essential
Noun
- Base: essential
- Plural: essentials
Word family
Forms
essentials
noun
Core family
essence
noun B2
essentially
adverb B1
Negative and opposite forms
nonessential
adjective
inessential
adjective
Advanced or less common
essentialism
noun
essentialist
noun
Expressions
bare essentials
1/bˈɛɹ ɪsˈɛnʃəlz/
fixed phrase
Only the most necessary things
Only the things you really need; nothing extra.
Examples
- We only took the bare essentials on our camping trip.
- After the fire, they were left with just the bare essentials.
essential oils
1/ɪsˈɛnʃəl ˈɔɪlz/
fixed phrase
Concentrated plant extracts with aroma
Strong liquids from plants that have a special smell or taste, used in perfumes, food, or medicine.
Examples
- Lavender and peppermint are popular essential oils used in aromatherapy.
- She added a few drops of essential oil to the bath.