Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

essays

  • plural
    of essay.
    essay
    noun
    a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.
  • present tense form
    of essay (3rd person singular).
    essay
    noun
    a short literary composition on a particular theme or subject, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretative.

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:

Even so, students around the country are using the tools to help write essays, complete math and physics problem sets, and otherwise present the illusion of knowledge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Year: 2022 Compiled by: Dan Kois and Slate Staff Of note: Accompanied by several supplemental essays, including a ranking by Chris Molanphy of “The Top 5 Mob Movie Deaths of All Time.”

From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2026

“So Ordered: An Originalist’s View of the Constitution, the Court, and Our Country” is a collection of essays adapted from speeches he has given since 2007, many with straightforward titles, including “Let Judges Be Judges.”

From Salon ● Oct. 6, 2026

"When you realize the impact the work will have, people can't help but weigh in," Diamos says -- which helps explain Amodei's many sprawling essays.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

That’s why I al-ways hated turning my essays in, because the teacher would look at me as if he knew that I was going to fail.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers