in essence

1. Basically, by nature, as in He is in essence a very private person or In essence, they were asking the wrong question. This term employs essence in the sense of “intrinsic nature,” a usage dating from the mid-1600s.

Example Sentences

So, in essence, he already has a significant grip on transfer matters.

From BBC

They have in essence burned their bridges; their continued success will be identified with his.

From Salon

"I think there are going to be a lot of contractual clauses within the loan that basically force JLR in essence to drive cash through the supply chain," he said.

From BBC

Many have become in essence private investigators, tracking down clients they haven’t seen in years.

From Los Angeles Times

The minister had said there was no such thing as "beggars" in Cuba and people going through rubbish were, in essence, doing so out of choice to make "easy money", as she put it.

From BBC

Related Words

• actually 
• approximately 
• necessarily 
• originally 
• permanently www.thesaurus.com
• quite 
• really 
• substantially 
• truly 
• typically 
• virtually