# essay

/ˈɛˌseɪ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/essay
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. written composition

noun · CEFR A2 · Academic

a short piece of writing on a particular subject, often done as part of school or university work.

For teachers: a short analytic, interpretive, or critical literary composition, usually dealing with a specific topic from a personal or limited perspective.

- I have to finish my history essay by tomorrow morning.
- The professor requested a five-page essay exploring the socio-economic causes of the industrial revolution in northern England.

Usage: Commonly used with the verbs 'write', 'submit', or 'assign'.

### 2. an attempt

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

a formal attempt to do or achieve something difficult.

For teachers: an initial effort or attempt to accomplish a specific task or goal.

- This was his first essay at public speaking, and he was very nervous.
- Despite his lack of experience, his first essay at diplomatic negotiation yielded surprisingly positive results for the small nation.

### 3. to try

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to try to do something, especially something new or challenging.

For teachers: to make an attempt at a task; to put something to a test or trial.

- She decided to essay a new style of painting after years of realism.
- The mountain climber prepared to essay the difficult north face, despite the worsening weather conditions and limited supplies.

### 4. stamp or banknote design

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a design for a new postage stamp or paper money that has not been used yet.

For teachers: a trial design for a postage stamp or banknote, submitted for approval but not necessarily adopted for final production.

- The collector paid a high price for a rare essay of the 1920 stamp.
- The museum's philatelic department contains several unique essays that show the evolution of the national currency's aesthetic design.

## Examples

- I need to finish my history essay by tomorrow morning.
- The professor asked each student to write a five-page essay comparing two different economic theories.
- Her collection of personal essays explores the intersection of cultural identity and modern urban life with remarkable clarity and wit.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.