Esther

[ es-ter ]

/ ˈɛs tər /

Save This Word!

noun

the wife of Ahasuerus.

a book of the Bible bearing her name. Abbreviation: Esth.

a number of prayers, visions, interpretations of dreams, etc., that are included in the Douay Bible as chapters 10–16.

a female given name.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Esther

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin Hester, from Greek Esthēr, from Hebrew Estēr; further origin uncertain; possibly from Persian sitareh, setāre “star, fate”; possibly from Akkadian Ishtar; cf. Aphrodite, Ishtar, star

Words nearby Esther

esterification, esterify, Estes, Estes Park, Esth., Esther, esthesia, esthesio-, esthesiodic, esthesiogenesis, esthesiogenic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use Esther in a sentence

Instead, he asked Esther and her colleagues to make shirts for the soldiers.
Beyond the Founding Fathers: 12 Unsung Figures Who Helped Build America|Olivia B. Waxman|July 1, 2022|Time
As the third of Edwards’s 11 children, Esther was hailed as a “great beauty”—the so-called “flower of her family”—though her allure extended well beyond the cosmetic.
Women in Colonial America Were More Powerful Than We Give Them Credit For|Cornelia Powers|March 16, 2022|Time
“Congratulations to Prince and Esther, two talented young journalists who will gain valuable work experience this summer while telling the important stories of our community,” said Blade Foundation Executive Director Kevin Naff.
Blade Foundation announces 2021 fellowship recipients|Staff reports|April 26, 2021|Washington Blade
Esther’s mother had told her that if she learned shorthand, “she would be in demand among all the up-and-coming young men and she would transcribe letter after thrilling letter.”
The hotel that nurtured ambitious women and their New York dreams|Mary Jo Murphy|March 26, 2021|Washington Post

After a high-risk pregnancy and reduced hours at the supermarket where she works, Esther relied on mutual aid for baby supplies.
The Science of Awe and the Mars Perseverance Rover|Susanna Schrobsdorff|February 21, 2021|Time
In her struggle to find her daughter, Esther becomes one of the founders of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo.
How Pope Francis Became the World’s BFF|Jason Berry|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Esther Choi of Mokbar said she has made Korean potato pancakes called gam ja jun, and Charles Rodriguez of PRINT.
I Ate Potato Pancakes Til I Plotzed|Emily Shire|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The name Easter may, or may not, be derived from the Sumerian goddess Inanna, or Ishtar—the source of the Hebrew name Esther.
Meet Krampus, the Seriously Bad Santa|Jay Michaelson|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I started to think of these sections in part as being the interior place where the characters of Jane and Esther perhaps overlap.
Susan Minot on Africa, Joseph Kony, and the Limits of Writing About Love|Lea Carpenter|February 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Esther Williams, 91 From 1945-49 a Williams film was one of the top 20 box office grossers each year—clearly, swimming sells.
The Deaths You Missed This Year|Malcolm Jones, Jimmy So, Michael Moynihan, Caitlin Dickson|December 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Her lover installed her in an elegant apartment on rue Taitbout, where Esther Gobseck afterwards lived.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe
Was Esther left alone, or had some new protector made his appearance from among the millions of Europe?
Tales and Fantasies|Robert Louis Stevenson
Then, as though this was the end of what she could endure in the way of joy, Esther turned and ran out of the room.
Tales and Fantasies|Robert Louis Stevenson
The Admiral was in the chimney-corner, once more ‘sirrupping’ some brandy and water, and Esther sat at the table at work.
Tales and Fantasies|Robert Louis Stevenson
Had he done so, of course Dick could have taken to his heels, and warned Esther of what was coming, and of how it had begun.
Tales and Fantasies|Robert Louis Stevenson

British Dictionary definitions for Esther

Esther

/ (ˈɛstə) /

noun Old Testament

a beautiful Jewish woman who became queen of Persia and saved her people from massacre

the book in which this episode is recounted

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Esther

Esther

A book of the Old Testament that tells the story of a beautiful Jewish woman named Esther who is chosen by the king of Persia (now Iran; see Persian Empire) to be his queen. Esther, with the aid of her cousin Mordecai, stops a plot to massacre the Jews (see also Jews) in Persia, and Mordecai becomes the king's chief minister.

notes for Esther

This event is celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim.