Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

essaying

  • present participle of essay.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Two other Scandinavian greats, Ingrid Bergman and Liv Ullmann, couldn’t resist essaying a part that passionately called out to them.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 15, 2025

Here, Sinatra is clearly stretching the limits of what was possible for a popular singer—one can’t imagine any of his predecessors or contemporaries essaying a work as long and complex as this.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 20, 2025

The actress was a member of the National Theatre Company at the Old Vic from 1972-75, essaying Lady Macbeth in 1972.

From Salon Sep. 10, 2020

Like all reflective objects though, the act of essaying has a twoness about it.

From Washington Post May 11, 2020

"That is all we ask," said De Berniers, essaying a comical grimace, which tempted M. de Terville to order his ejection by the domestics.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 119, September, 1867 by Various