essential
adjective
1. absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
- essential tools and materials
- funds essential to the completion of the project
Similar word(s): necessary, indispensable
2. basic and fundamental
- the essential feature
Similar word(s): crucial, important, biogenic, constituent, constitutional, constitutive, organic, must, staple, substantial, substantive, virtual, vital, indispensable, unexpendable, intrinsic, intrinsical, necessary, primary
3. of the greatest importance
- in chess cool nerves are of the essence
Similar word(s): important, crucial
4. being or relating to or containing the essence of a plant etc
- essential oil
5. defining rights and duties as opposed to giving the rules by which rights and duties are established
Similar word(s): substantive
Sentences with essential as an adjective:
- Don’t mind him being grumpy. That’s the essential Fred.