# esteem

/əˈstim/ (US) · /ɛstˈiːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/esteem
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. respect and admiration

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

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

### 2. self-worth

noun · CEFR B1

the way you feel about yourself and your own value.

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

- Winning the competition gave a big boost to his self-esteem.
- Psychologists suggest that positive reinforcement during childhood is critical for developing healthy self-esteem in later life.

### 3. to respect highly

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to respect or admire someone very much.

For teachers: to regard a person or quality with great respect or reverence.

- She is a colleague whom I greatly esteem for her honesty.
- He was a leader much esteemed by his subordinates, not for his power, but for his unwavering integrity.

### 4. to consider or judge

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to think of someone or something in a certain way.

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

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

## Examples

- The retired teacher is held in high esteem by the whole community.
- After years of honest service, she earned the esteem of her colleagues and was promoted to director.
- The loss of public esteem can be more damaging to a politician's career than any specific policy failure, as trust is notoriously difficult to rebuild once it has been eroded.

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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.