# self-esteem

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/self-esteem
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

the way you feel about yourself and your own value. If you have high self-esteem, you believe in your abilities and feel good about who you are.

For teachers: a subjective evaluation of one's own worth, encompassing beliefs about oneself as well as emotional states such as pride and shame.

## Examples

- Playing sports helped the children build their self-esteem.
- After failing the exam, he struggled with low self-esteem and doubted whether he belonged in the university program.
- Psychological interventions aimed at improving self-esteem often focus on cognitive restructuring, helping patients challenge the internalized negative beliefs that undermine their sense of personal value.

## Usage notes

- Frequently collocates with adjectives like 'high' or 'low', and verbs like 'build', 'boost', or 'damage'.

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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.