B2 verb Formal

essay

/ɛˈseɪ/

To attempt or make an effort to do something, especially something difficult or challenging. It often implies a first trial or an experimental endeavor to see if a task can be accomplished.

Examples

3 of 5
1

He decided to essay a smile despite the bad news.

He decided to attempt a smile despite the bad news.

2

The diplomat will essay to mediate the conflict between the two nations.

The diplomat will attempt to mediate the conflict between the two nations.

3

I might essay a joke to lighten the mood, but I'm not very funny.

I might try a joke to lighten the mood, but I'm not very funny.

Word Family

Noun
essay
Verb
essay
Adjective
essayistic
Related
essayist
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Memory Tip

Think of the noun 'essay' as a 'trial' of your ideas on paper; therefore, to 'essay' as a verb is simply to 'trial' or 'try' an action.

Quick Quiz

The young pianist was nervous to ______ such a difficult concerto for her debut.

Correct!

The correct answer is: essay

Examples

1

He decided to essay a smile despite the bad news.

everyday

He decided to attempt a smile despite the bad news.

2

The diplomat will essay to mediate the conflict between the two nations.

formal

The diplomat will attempt to mediate the conflict between the two nations.

3

I might essay a joke to lighten the mood, but I'm not very funny.

informal

I might try a joke to lighten the mood, but I'm not very funny.

4

In this chapter, the author will essay a new interpretation of the historical data.

academic

In this chapter, the author will attempt a new interpretation of the historical data.

5

The startup plans to essay a breakthrough in renewable energy storage next year.

business

The startup plans to attempt a breakthrough in renewable energy storage next year.

Word Family

Noun
essay
Verb
essay
Adjective
essayistic
Related
essayist

Common Collocations

essay a task to attempt a task
essay a response to try to give a response
essay a smile to try to smile
essay an explanation to attempt an explanation
essay a flight to attempt a flight (often historical context)

Common Phrases

essay to do

to attempt to do

essay a role

to try out or perform a role

essay a beginning

to try to make a start

Often Confused With

essay vs assay

Assay means to analyze the chemical composition of a substance (like gold), while essay (verb) means to attempt something.

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Usage Notes

As a verb, 'essay' is quite formal and is more common in literature or high-level academic writing than in daily speech. It is frequently followed by a noun (e.g., essay a smile) or an infinitive (e.g., essay to climb).

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistake 'essay' solely for the noun meaning a piece of writing; remember that as a verb, the stress often shifts to the second syllable (es-SAY).

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the noun 'essay' as a 'trial' of your ideas on paper; therefore, to 'essay' as a verb is simply to 'trial' or 'try' an action.

📖

Word Origin

From the Old French 'essayer', which means 'to test' or 'to try out'.

Grammar Patterns

Transitive verb (requires an object) Often followed by a 'to' infinitive Regular conjugation: essayed, essaying

Quick Quiz

The young pianist was nervous to ______ such a difficult concerto for her debut.

Correct!

The correct answer is: essay

Related Words

unknown

A1

A person or thing that is not known, recognized, or familiar. It often refers to a mysterious situation or a person who has not yet achieved fame or success.

of

A1

A preposition used to show a relationship between a part and a whole, or to indicate belonging and origin. It connects a noun or pronoun to another part of the sentence to specify which one or what kind.

in

A1

A preposition used to indicate position within a container, a space, an area, or a period of time. It describes being surrounded by something or being inside the boundaries of a location.

it

A1

A third-person singular pronoun used to refer to an object, animal, or situation that has already been mentioned or is clear from context. It is also frequently used as a dummy subject to talk about time, weather, or distance.

on

A1

A preposition used to indicate that something is in a position above and supported by a surface. It is also used to indicate a specific day or date, or to show that a device is functioning.

as

A1

A conjunction used to compare two things that are equal in some way. It is most commonly used in the pattern 'as + adjective/adverb + as' to show similarity.

this

A1

Used to identify a specific person, thing, or idea that is physically close to the speaker or has just been mentioned. It can also refer to the present time or a situation that is currently happening.

by

A1

A preposition used to show the method or means of doing something, or to identify the person or thing that performs an action. It frequently appears in passive sentences to indicate the agent or before modes of transport.

we

A1

The word 'we' is a first-person plural pronoun used to refer to the speaker and one or more other people collectively. It is used as the subject of a sentence or clause.

or

A1

A coordinating conjunction used to connect two or more possibilities or alternatives. it indicates that only one of the options is likely, required, or true.

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