What does "esteem" mean?

1. (respect and admiration) respect and admiration for someone because of their qualities or achievements. 2. (self-worth) the way you feel about yourself and your own value. 3. (to respect highly) to respect or admire someone very much. 4. (to consider or judge) to think of someone or something in a certain way.

How do you use "esteem"?

Commonly used in the fixed phrase 'to hold someone in high esteem'. Often used in the passive voice followed by a noun or adjective complement.

esteem

n. · v.

US //əˈstim// UK //ɛstˈiːm// es·teem

1 respect and admiration (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

respect and admiration for someone because of their qualities or achievements.

favourable regard or respect, often based on the perceived worth or merit of a person.

Example

The retired teacher was held in high esteem by the whole community.

Example

The professor is held in high esteem by her colleagues for her groundbreaking research in renewable energy systems.

Usage

Commonly used in the fixed phrase 'to hold someone in high esteem'.
- disdain
- contempt
2 self-worth (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the way you feel about yourself and your own value.

the level of confidence or satisfaction one has in oneself; almost exclusively used in the compound 'self-esteem'.

Example

Winning the competition gave a big boost to his self-esteem.

Example

Psychologists suggest that positive reinforcement during childhood is critical for developing healthy self-esteem in later life.
- self worth
- self respect
- self loathing

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3 to respect highly (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to respect or admire someone very much.

to regard a person or quality with great respect or reverence.

Example

She is a colleague whom I greatly esteem for her honesty.

Example

He was a leader much esteemed by his subordinates, not for his power, but for his unwavering integrity.
- despise
4 to consider or judge (v.)
C2 Proficiency Formal Literary

to think of someone or something in a certain way.

to consider, judge, or regard something as having a particular quality.

Example

The project was esteemed a success by the board of directors.

Example

In many traditional cultures, the wisdom of the elderly is esteemed more highly than the technical skills of the young.

Usage

Often used in the passive voice followed by a noun or adjective complement.

Origin

First at end of 16th century; borrowed from Middle French estimer, borrowed from Latin aestimō. See estimate and aim, an older word, partly a doublet.

Word family

Nounesteem
Nounself esteem