of the essence

adjective

of the greatest importance

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the all-important subject of disarmament

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crucial information

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in chess cool nerves are of the essence

• Syn: ↑all-important, ↑all important, ↑crucial, ↑essential

• Similar to: ↑important, ↑of import

• Derivationally related forms: ↑essence (for: ↑essential), ↑essentialness (for: ↑essential), ↑essentiality (for: ↑essential), ↑cruciality (for: ↑crucial)

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adjective

: of unavoidable importance : essential, indispensable

in politics, personality is very often of the essence — R.H.Rovere

in a revolution, timing is of the essence: temporary expedients are apt to congeal into permanent situations — Gladys Delmas

it is not enough to say that we are trying to equip young women for life in a self-governing country, though that is clearly of the essence — Smith College President's Report

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of the essence

Of the utmost importance

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Main Entry: ↑essence

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of the essence phrase

the most important quality in a particular situation

Time is of the essence as rescuers battle to reach survivors of the hurricane.

Thesaurus: most important_synonym

Main entry: essence

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critically important

time will be of the essence

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of the essence

: of the greatest importance

Time/speed is of the essence when dealing with a medical emergency.

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Main Entry: ↑essence

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of the ˈessence idiom

necessary and very important

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In this situation

time is of the essence (= we must do things as quickly as possible)

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Main entry: ↑essence_idiom