Of the essence Definition 1 of 1Pro Tip 1/3Urgent Contexts Used when there's a tight deadline or something needs to be done quickly. To save lives, immediate response is of the essence. Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Literal Sometimes it's used figuratively to stress the importance of something, not just time. For this recipe, fresh ingredients are of the essence. Pro Tip 3/3Business Deals Common in negotiations, where timely decision-making can be critical. In the trading world, speed is of the essence.