essay

American  

[es-ey, es-ey, e-sey, e-sey] / ˈɛs eɪ, ˈɛs eɪ, ɛˈseɪ, ɛˈseɪ /

noun

1. a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.

2. anything resembling such a composition.

   a picture essay.

3. an effort to perform or accomplish something; attempt.

4. Philately. a design for a proposed stamp differing in any way from the design of the stamp as issued.

5. Obsolete. a tentative effort; trial; assay.

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verb (used with object)

essays, present (3rd person singular) essayed, past participle, past essaying present participle

1. to try; attempt.

2. to put to the test; make trial of.

essay British  

noun

1. a short literary composition dealing with a subject analytically or speculatively

2. an attempt or endeavour; effort

3. a test or trial

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verb

1. to attempt or endeavour; try

2. to test or try out

essay Cultural  

1. A short piece of writing on one subject, usually presenting the author's own views. Michel de Montaigne, Francis Bacon (see also Bacon), and Ralph Waldo Emerson are celebrated for their essays.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preessay
  verb (used without object)
• well-essayed
  adjective
• unessayed
  adjective
• essayer
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have essayed
  perfect
• has essayed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is essaying
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been essaying
  perfect progressive
• has been essaying
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are essaying
  progressive
• essays
  singular 3rd person
• am essaying
  progressive 1st person singular
• essaying
  participle

Past

• had essayed
  perfect
• were essaying
  progressive plural
• had been essaying
  perfect progressive
• essayed
  simple
• was essaying
  progressive singular
• essayed
  participle

Future

• will essay
  simple
• will have essayed
  perfect
• will have been essaying
  perfect progressive
• will be essaying
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of essay

First recorded in 1475–85; from Middle French essayer, from Late Latin exagium “a weighing,” from exag(ere) (unrecorded) “to examine, test,” literally, “to drive out, thrust out” (from Latin exigere; see exact) + -ium -ium

Explanation

A composition that is usually short and has a literary theme is called an essay. You should probably start writing your essay on "To Kill a Mockingbird" sometime before the bus ride to school the day it is due. As a noun, an essay is also an attempt, especially a tentative initial one. Your essay to make friends at your new school would probably work better if you actually spoke to other students. As a verb, to essay is to make an attempt. If you essay to run for student council, you might lose to the girl who promises more recess, longer lunches, and less homework.

Example Sentences

For school, Fuki writes an essay about her wish to be an orphan.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

In her book, she now explains that “as a teacher” she believed in “leading with praise no matter how bad the test result or essay is.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

He wrote an essay on how schools in the Southern Section were trying to convince him to leave Carson.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

It makes you wonder if the issue is less that Mr. Blair wrote the wrong essay and more that he directed it to the wrong audience.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

She’s wearing that principal gaze, the kind of face one might make if they’re reading an essay consisting of nothing but misspelled words.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

• article
• discussion
• dissertation
• manuscript
• paper
• piece
• study
• thesis
• treatise