How to Use essential in a Sentence

essential

1 of 2 adjective
  • The essential problem with this plan is that it will cost too much.
  • As a fighter pilot, he knows that good vision is essential.
  • Free speech is an essential right of citizenship.
  • There's no essential difference between the two products.
  • This is one of the ways that is essential to doing that.
    Talia Richman, baltimoresun.com, 5 July 2018
  • Wills is both essential to the plot and nonessential to the drama.
    Rebecca Farley, refinery29.com, 19 June 2018
  • Through the years the emphasis of the event has been to provide essential needs.
    Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 23 Nov. 2022
  • For Hill to make that leap, in-game reps like these are essential.
    Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, 16 Nov. 2020
  • Wang—and Yuk—note that a long-term study will be essential.
    Max G. Levy, Wired, 24 Aug. 2021
  • And that first phone has proven essential in building the case.
    Vinny Vella, Philly.com, 11 July 2018
  • If anything, the beauty of Oceans is that both halves of the game are essential.
    Dan Thurot, Ars Technica, 15 Feb. 2020
  • The world of sports has two essential settings: the playing field and the locker room.
    Robert O'Connell, The Atlantic, 24 May 2018
  • For the man on the move, a stylish and well-designed toiletry bag is essential.
    Lucia Tonelli, Town & Country, 14 July 2022
  • So what’s essential to note from this edition of the Avs?
    Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2019
  • Finding a way to de-stress and calm your mind is essential.
    Amy Marturana Winderl, SELF, 17 Nov. 2022
  • The beanie is not essential, but does add some more edginess and will help keep you warm.
    Annie O’Sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 7 June 2022
  • Sound point guard play is essential in a fast-pace style like Louisville’s.
    David J. Kim, The Courier-Journal, 23 Oct. 2019
  • But for the best chili, one thing is essential: Always start with chiles.
    Eric Velasco, AL.com, 5 Jan. 2018
  • Time with their child reduced when time with the child is essential?
    Tribune News Service, al, 18 June 2022
  • Aside from essential workers, the entire city is like me, locked down and locked in.
    David Culver, CNN, 11 Apr. 2022
  • This makeup brush is, at once, four of the most essential brushes in one tool.
    Audrey Noble, Allure, 15 Sep. 2020
  • The bottom line is that sales are an essential part of business.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2021
  • Take a look back at how the smartphone grew from gadget to essential.
    Brian Barrett, WIRED, 22 June 2018
  • Being on the same side of that bump as the day’s hole location is essential.
    Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2023
  • So, finding ways to calm them down while treating the root of the problem is essential.
    Sarah Jacoby, SELF, 31 Oct. 2019
  • Truth and justice are essential — in no small part to expose evil to light.
    Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review, 19 Aug. 2019
  • Carlo has been an essential part of the team’s penalty kill.
    BostonGlobe.com, 4 June 2021
  • For fans of the classics, this cocktail book is essential.
    Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, 9 Nov. 2018
  • The candle is made with a premium soy wax blend and essential and perfume-grade fragrance oils.
    Nora Colomer, Fox News, 12 Apr. 2024
  • Earbuds or headphones that block out sound are another essential folks should pack to protect their ears, according to the University of Texas Health Austin.
    Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
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essential

2 of 2 noun
  • The first essential is, of course, not to read The Faery Queen.
    Catherine Nicholson, The New York Review of Books, 23 Sep. 2021
  • Sakara has all the essentials, which is a bit of feat for a ship this size.
    Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2024
  • Here are some ideas on what to pick up from the home essentials brand.
    Jenny Xie, Curbed, 14 June 2019
  • Cropped, tied, plain, or in mesh, the tank is an essential.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 28 June 2022
  • The clingy turtlenecks were essentials that came straight from the pages.
    Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Mar. 2023
  • Watch the video above for some killer hair tips and shop Yepez's essentials.
    Audrey Noble, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Dec. 2018
  • Those who select the essentials plan will be able to stream the special the next day.
    Josie Howell | , al, 10 Apr. 2023
  • The under-70s can walk once a day to shop for essentials but not beyond 2kms from home.
    Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2020
  • The tray also keeps must-have essentials for the day ready to go, like ID cards and house keys.
    Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2023
  • And truth be told, this is where your trusty wardrobe essentials come back in.
    Laura Jackson, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2024
  • During her first month, Ramirez checked off some of the essentials.
    Madison Feller, ELLE, 26 Apr. 2023
  • Use them as a way to play up wardrobe essentials like a white button-down and a black tote back.
    Glamour, 15 Oct. 2019
  • Has the essential been retained, or has too much been erased?
    Rafia Zakaria, The New Republic, 5 May 2022
  • The durable cooking essentials are a bit pricey, and since Le Creuset sales are rare, now is a good time to stock up.
    Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2024
  • And Saje oils are pure essentials for helping to aid sleep when in flight.
    Jane Sung, CNT, 22 Sep. 2017
  • The first essential was in place for my first ice fishing outing of the season.
    Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 25 Dec. 2021
  • The simplest of the cheeses to make is farmer’s cheese, which is cheesemaking stripped to its barest essentials.
    Daniel Neman, Twin Cities, 31 July 2019
  • How about a few kitchen essentials to take your cooking skills to the next level?
    Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, 23 Aug. 2019
  • From must-have home essentials to toys that’ll put a smile on any kid’s face, there are tons of perfect gifts on the site.
    Christina Butan, PEOPLE.com, 7 Dec. 2019
  • In its stark white version, the sneaker is stripped down to its barest essentials.
    Jake Woolf, GQ, 5 Feb. 2018
  • The cars, some of them bullet-ridden, were packed with the essentials: tents, sleeping bags, crates of beer.
    Paul Goldman, NBC News, 12 Oct. 2023
  • But now that the wave of early adopters has crested, does the bidet still feel like a modern essential?
    Sal Vaglica, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2022
  • The Fast and Free running belt holds just the essentials: AirPods, credit cards, and keys.
    Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2023
  • There's no such thing as having too many of your home essentials.
    Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, 23 May 2019
  • Here are the essentials on four new restaurants to hit metro Detroit.
    Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 13 Dec. 2017
  • So to me, that's my essential to really smooth out my face and the texture.
    Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2022
  • There's now ample space to display (and reach for) all of my pantry essentials.
    Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2024
  • The sets can be monogrammed and will include at least five essentials: a bra, panties, garter belt, leg garter, and silk robe.
    Priya Rao, Town & Country, 13 Sep. 2013
  • Add a comfortable pair of strappy sandals and a colorful clutch for all your essentials.
    Essence, 9 Apr. 2024
  • That includes discounts on space-saving furniture, spring clothing, tech essentials, and kitchen must-haves from KitchenAid, Levi’s, Sony, and other customer-favorite brands.
    Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'essential.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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