esteem

[ ih-steem ]

verb (used with object)

1. to regard highly or favorably; regard with respect or admiration:

   I esteem him for his honesty.

   Synonyms: respect, revere, honor

   Antonyms: disdain

2. to consider as of a certain value or of a certain type; regard:

   I esteem it worthless.

3. Obsolete. to set a value on; appraise.

noun

1. favorable opinion or judgment; respect or regard:

   to hold a person in esteem.

   Synonyms: veneration, reverence, honor, admiration, favor

2. Archaic. opinion or judgment; estimation; valuation.

esteem

/ ɪˈstiːm /

verb

1. to have great respect or high regard for

   to esteem a colleague

2. formal.
   to judge or consider; deem

   to esteem an idea improper

noun

1. high regard or respect; good opinion
2. archaic.
   judgment; opinion

Derived Forms

• esˈteemed, adjective

Other Words From

• pre·es·teem verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of esteem¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English estemen, from Middle French estimer, from Latin aestimāre “to fix the value of”

Word History and Origins

Origin of esteem¹

C15: from Old French estimer, from Latin aestimāre estimate

Synonym Study

See respect.

Example Sentences

Well-known across the Spanish-speaking world, Colombian comic Santiago Rivas’ political satire is held in high esteem.

From Ozy

The trouble is that the general social esteem in which people hold science makes it natural for them to make an unhelpful assumption.

From Nautilus

This is important because “high public esteem has helped protect the tech industry from critics and regulators, but that shield is weakening,” write Ina Fried and Mike Allen for Axios.

From Search Engine Land

The team was coached by Caleb Martin, a skier from Telluride, Colorado, who held Cummings in high esteem.

From Outside Online

That’s the story Gershom Gorenberg restores to memory and esteem in “War of Shadows,” a masterpiece of scholarship and synthesis that also reads like a thriller.

From Washington Post

As the director of Freedom Now, I hold Intigam Aliyev in high esteem and have long respected his work as a human-rights lawyer.

From The Daily Beast

But beneath all the shiny esteem, the 25-year-old Wright led a seedy double life.

From The Daily Beast

Around the world, they are held in high esteem, paid professional wages, and often granted tenure in their jobs.

From The Daily Beast

Once a girl's self-esteem is crushed, the effects are far reaching and long lasting.

From The Daily Beast

But before the former First Lady left the Obama Administration, the Tanzanian Ambassador wanted to give her a token of esteem.

From The Daily Beast

Nobody had held his brother in any less esteem for this connection; it was quite the way in the country.

From Project Gutenberg

To suddenly discover oneself proficient where failure had been feared increases self esteem and adds to the sum of happiness.

From Project Gutenberg

Monsieur de Garnache, if you have no friend at hand to act for you, I shall esteem myself honoured.

From Project Gutenberg

The good character of the Irish railways was thus re-established, and they again held their rightful place in public esteem.

From Project Gutenberg

This slight acquaintance with the nobility of France did not, however, elevate them in her esteem.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hold dear
• revere
• value
• venerate

When To Use

What are other ways to say esteem?

If you esteem someone, you hold them in high regard. How is esteem different from appreciate, value, and prize? Find out on Thesaurus.com.