of the essence

Idioms

Of the greatest importance, crucial, as in Time is of the essence. This idiom, which uses essence in the sense of “the most important element of something,” was first recorded in 1873, although the phrase the essence of... was already being used in the mid-1600s.

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.

Time is also of the essence for candidates who need to know if they can get on with the transition to holding office, or seek a new line of work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

Time is of the essence, say top EU officials.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

Time is of the essence when it comes to making these refund-enhancing tax-planning moves, and filing your 2025 tax return, according to Greene-Lewis.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 4, 2025

It says the government's announcement is "vital and long-overdue", but time is of the essence.

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2025

This need to be always on guard was an unmeasured expenditure of energy, the slow siphoning of the essence.

From "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023