essential
1. [ adjective ] absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
Synonyms: indispensable
Examples:

"essential tools and materials" "funds essential to the completion of the project" "an indispensable worker"

Related terms: necessary
2. [ adjective ] basic and fundamental
Examples:

"the essential feature"

Related terms: inessential basal substantial vital no-frills constituent virtual biogenic must staple important necessary primary crucial intrinsic indispensable unexpendable essentiality
3. [ adjective ] of the greatest importance
Synonyms: all-important of_the_essence crucial all_important
Examples:

"the all-important subject of disarmament" "crucial information" "in chess cool nerves are of the essence"

Related terms: important
4. [ adjective ] of the greatest importance
Synonyms: all-important of_the_essence crucial all_important
Examples:

"the all-important subject of disarmament" "crucial information" "in chess cool nerves are of the essence"

Related terms: important
5. [ noun ] anything indispensable
Synonyms: requirement necessity necessary requisite
Examples:

"food and shelter are necessities of life" "the essentials of the good life" "allow farmers to buy their requirements under favorable conditions" "a place where the requisites of water fuel and fodder can be obtained"

Related terms: inessential entity thing need must desideratum want
6. [ adjective ] absolutely required and not to be used up or sacrificed
Related terms: unexpendable
7. [ adjective ] being or relating to or containing the essence of a plant etc
Examples:

"essential oil"

Related terms: essence
8. [ adjective ] (law) applying to essential legal principles and rules of right
Synonyms: substantive
Examples:

"substantive law"

Related terms: adjective law
Similar spelling:   essentially
  essentiality