essence
noun
es·sence
| \ ˈe-sᵊn(t)s
\
\
Definition of essence
1a
: the permanent as contrasted with the accidental element of being
b
: the individual, real, or ultimate nature of a thing especially as opposed to its existence
a painting that captures the essence of the land
c
: the properties or attributes by means of which something can be placed in its proper class or identified as being what it is
2
: the most significant element, quality, or aspect of a thing or person
the essence of the issue
3
: one that possesses or exhibits a quality in abundance as if in concentrated form
she was the essence of punctuality
4a(1)
: a constituent or derivative possessing the special qualities (as of a plant or drug) in concentrated form
also
: a preparation of such an essence or a synthetic substitute
(2)
: a volatile substance or constituent (as of perfume)
5
: something that exists : entity
in essence
of the essence
: in or by its very nature : essentially, basically
was in essence an honest person
: of the utmost importance
time is of the essence
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Synonyms for essence
Synonyms
being, essentiality, nature, quiddity, quintessence, soul, stuff, substance
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Examples of essence in a Sentence
The perennial debate about nature and nurture—which is the more potent shaper of the human essence?—is perennially rekindled.
— Matt Ridley, Time, 2 June 2003
In essence, the positivists were the first sociologists, rejecting both superstition and metaphysics and studying behavior as a natural phenomenon that could be perfected.
— Stephan Talty, Mulatto America, 2003
I had come to Orange Cove on a statewide tour, looking for the essence of Latino life in a changing California and a good bowl of the Mexican stew …
— Joe Rodriguez, San Jose Mercury News, 20 May 2003
The essence of love is unselfishness.
The book's illustrations capture the essence of the story.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Nothing captures the essence of the genre better than an outdoor outlet where the music’s natural mystic can frolic freely. — Dasun Imanuel, Essence, "SUMMERSTAGE SIZZLES CENTRAL PARK WITH VP RECORDS 40th YEAR CELEBRATION," 15 Aug. 2019 Sultan of Swat — The moniker captures not only the essence of Babe Ruth but that of an entire era. — Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, "Saunders: Where have all of baseball’s great nicknames gone?," 10 Aug. 2019 Her work aims to capture the essence of that first reunion using pinks and reds to convey the love, beauty, and relief of that encounter. — Shirley Macfarland, cleveland.com, "Councilman Langshaw hosts annual picnic to benefit local resident Joe Keider: Talk of the Towns," 2 Aug. 2019 With its vertiginous spiral of fakery, the invented but plausible scene captures the essence of Russia’s hybrid onslaught against Ukraine. — The Economist, "A bold Ukrainian film-maker charts the line between fiction and truth," 25 July 2019 Rork’s story captures the essence of Art in the Park as a family festival that has become a quintessential part of summer for Plymouth families and beyond. — Andrea Perez Balderrama, Detroit Free Press, "Art in the Park in downtown Plymouth a celebration of summer fun, creativity," 13 July 2019 Disco Saturdays are for ages 21 and older and start at 2 p.m. on Aug. 3, Sept. 21 and Oct. 5; https://virginhotels.com/san-francisco Eat Hawaiian shave ice Few treats capture the essence of summer as perfectly as fluffy, sweet, snow-like ice. — Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, "10 awesome Bay Area adventures for that mid-summer bucket list," 7 July 2019 Perfectly capturing the essence of an Italian summer getaway, the vacation-friendly footwear ranges in price from $195 to $250. — Lauren Alexis Fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Summer’s Hottest New Shoe Will Make You Feel Like You’re Vacationing in Italy," 28 June 2019 Talbott's Chardonnays uniquely capture the essence of this setting, where the cooling ocean breezes temper the warm sunshine and prevent the grapes from ripening too quickly. — Bon Appétit, "A Taste of Place," 24 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'essence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for essence
essence
noun
English Language Learners Definition of essence
: the basic nature of a thing : the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is
: a substance that contains in very strong form the special qualities (such as the taste and smell) of the thing from which it is taken
See the full definition for essence in the English Language Learners Dictionary
essence
noun
es·sence
| \ ˈe-sᵊns
\
\
Kids Definition of essence
1
: the basic part of something
Freedom is the essence of democracy.
2
: a substance made from a plant or drug and having its special qualities
essence
noun
es·sence
| \ ˈes-ᵊn(t)s
\
\
Medical Definition of essence
1
: a substance considered to possess in high degree the predominant qualities of a natural product (as a plant or drug) from which it is extracted (as by distillation or infusion)
2a
: essential oil
b
: an alcoholic solution especially of an essential oil
essence of peppermint
c
: an artificial preparation (as an alcoholic solution of one or more esters) used especially in flavoring
d