essay
EHS-ay
Essay (noun) means a short piece of writing that explores or argues a particular topic. Example: “I need to hand in my history essay by Friday morning.”
noun
1
A short piece of writing that explores or argues a particular topic.
"I need to hand in my history essay by Friday morning."
"Her essay on climate policy won first prize in the competition."
"Students had two hours to write an essay on a topic of their choice."
verb
1
To attempt or try to do something.
"She essayed a few steps on the ice before wobbling."
"The young chef essayed a French sauce for the first time."
"He essayed a joke, but nobody laughed."
How to use essay
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA written piece that examines a topic, or, less commonly, an attempt at something.
Common pairings
write an essay
essay question
personal essay
essay topic
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Word forms
- Plural
- essays
- Third person singular
- essays
- Past tense
- essayed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I need to hand in my history _____ by Friday morning.
Etymology
From French essai, "an attempt" or "a trial" — the writer Montaigne coined the modern literary sense in the late 1500s when he called his own writings "essais," meaning tries or attempts at exploring an idea.
Class of 1500
essay joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Synonyms
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Rhymes for essay
See all rhymes for essay →Frequently asked questions
What does “essay” mean?
The word “essay” means a short piece of writing that explores or argues a particular topic. In plain terms, a written piece that examines a topic, or, less commonly, an attempt at something.
How do you pronounce “essay”?
“Essay” is pronounced EHS-ay (/ˈɛs.eɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “essay” in a sentence?
Here is “essay” used in a sentence: “Her essay on climate policy won first prize in the competition.”
What part of speech is “essay”?
Depending on how it is used, “essay” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “essay” come from?
The word “essay” dates back to around 1500 and comes from French. From French essai, "an attempt" or "a trial" — the writer Montaigne coined the modern literary sense in the late 1500s when he called his own writings "essais," meaning tries or attempts at exploring an idea.
Is “essay” a common word?
“Essay” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “essay” have?
“Essay” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short piece of writing that explores or argues a particular topic.
What is the difference between an essay and an article?
An essay is a short piece of writing that explores or argues a topic, often reflecting the writer's personal viewpoint, while an article is typically more factual and reports information, as in a newspaper or magazine. Essays are common in academic and literary settings, whereas articles belong to journalism.
What is the difference between essay and assay?
Essay and assay are easily confused: an essay is a piece of writing, while an assay is a test or analysis, especially of a metal or chemical. As a verb, "essay" means to attempt something, which is close to the older sense of "assay."
What are the main types of essay?
Common types of essay include narrative, descriptive, expository, argumentative, and persuasive essays. Each explores or argues a topic in a different way, from telling a story to making a reasoned case.
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