essential

/əˈsɛntʃəl/

/ɛˈsɛnʃəl/

Other forms: essentials

Essential means very basic or necessary. A good frying pan is one of a short list of kitchen essentials every cook must have. To prevent fires, it's essential to turn off appliances before leaving the house.

The adjective essential is often followed by to or that: It is essential to wash your hands. It is essential that you dry them after. This adjective is from Middle English essencial, from Late Latin essentialis, from Latin essentia "the basic nature of a thing, its essence" plus the Latin suffix -alis "relating to."

Definitions of essential

1. adjective

   basic and fundamental
   “the essential feature”

   synonyms:

   crucial, important

   of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis

   basal, primary

   of primary importance

   biogenic

   essential for maintaining the fundamental life processes

   constituent, constitutional, constitutive, organic

   constitutional in the structure of something (especially your physical makeup)

   must

   highly recommended

   no-frills

   characterized by the absence of inessential features

   staple

   necessary or important, especially regarding food or commodities

   substantial, substantive

   having a firm basis in reality and being therefore important, meaningful, or considerable

   virtual

   existing in essence or effect though not in actual fact

   life-sustaining, vital

   performing an essential function in the living body

   indispensable

   not to be dispensed with; essential

   unexpendable

   not suitable to be expended

   important, of import

   of great significance or value

   intrinsic, intrinsical

   belonging to a thing by its very nature

   necessary

   absolutely essential

   primary

   of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary

   antonyms:

   inessential

   not basic or fundamental

   accessorial

   nonessential but helpful

   adscititious

   supplemental; not part of the real or essential nature of a thing

   incidental, nonessential

   not of prime or central importance

   dispensable

   capable of being dispensed with or done without

   expendable

   suitable to be expended

   unimportant

   not important

   extrinsic

   not forming an essential part of a thing or arising or originating from the outside

   unnecessary, unneeded

   not necessary

   secondary

   being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate
2. adjective

   absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
   “essential tools and materials”

   “funds essential to the completion of the project”

   synonyms: indispensable

   necessary

   absolutely essential
3. adjective

   of the greatest importance
   synonyms: all important, all-important, crucial, of the essence

   important, of import

   of great significance or value
4. noun

   anything indispensable
   “the essentials of the good life”

   synonyms: necessary, necessity, requirement, requisite

   antonyms:

   inessential

   anything that is not essential

   types:

   desideratum

   something desired as a necessity

   must

   a necessary or essential thing

   need, want

   anything that is necessary but lacking

   type of:

   thing

   a separate and self-contained entity
5. adjective

   being or relating to or containing the essence of a plant etc
   “essential oil”
6. adjective

   defining rights and duties as opposed to giving the rules by which rights and duties are established
   synonyms: substantive