esteem
/ɪˈstiːm/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈstiːm/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈstēm/ (ame, mw)
esteem — noun
1. a feeling of deep respect and admiration that you have for someone because of th
a feeling of deep respect and admiration that you have for someone because of their qualities, skills, or achievements
The community held the elderly teacher in high esteem for her decades of dedicated service.
collocation: hold in high esteem
Years of honest work earned Diego the esteem of his colleagues at the hospital.
collocation: earn the esteem of
Children build self-esteem when they feel valued for who they are, not just for achievements.
Fatima's research on clean energy brought her international esteem among climate scientists.
The award showed the deep esteem in which fellow artists held the painter.
- respect
more common and less formal than 'esteem'; used in everyday speech
- admiration
focuses more on appreciating someone's qualities than on their overall standing
- reverence
much stronger, with a sense of awe; often used for religious or nearly sacred figures
- regard
similar in formality; often used in 'hold in high regard'
文法句型
hold/regard + noun + in high esteem
have great esteem for + noun
用法筆記
Most common in the fixed phrases 'hold someone in high esteem', 'have great esteem for someone', and the compound 'self-esteem'. Unlike 'respect', 'esteem' is almost always uncountable and rarely used without a modifier or qualifying phrase.
常見錯誤
esteem — verb
- esteempresent simple I / you / we / they
- esteems3rd person singular
- esteeming-ing form
- esteemedpast simple
1. to have a very high opinion of a person or their qualities, often because of the
to have a very high opinion of a person or their qualities, often because of their character, skills, or achievements over a long period
Dr. Okafor was deeply esteemed by patients for his gentle manner and clear explanations.
passive: be esteemed by + for
In many rural communities, elders are esteemed for their wisdom and life experience.
passive + preposition: esteemed for
The novelist is widely esteemed as one of the most original voices in modern Indian literature.
Mei's colleagues esteem her dedication to mentoring young researchers at the university.
We esteem volunteers who give their time to help families affected by natural disasters.
- despise
to hate or have no respect for
- look down on
to consider someone as less important
文法句型
be esteemed + (as/for) + noun phrase
esteem + noun
用法筆記
Used predominantly in the passive voice ('is esteemed', 'was esteemed'). The active voice (as in examples 9-10) is rarer and sounds more literary. For everyday respect, use 'respect' or 'admire' instead.
常見錯誤
2. to consider or judge someone or something to have a particular quality or to be
to consider or judge someone or something to have a particular quality or to be a particular kind of thing — used especially in polite, formal expressions such as 'I would esteem it a great honor'
I would esteem it a great honor to be invited to speak at your conference next spring.
pattern: would esteem it + noun + to-infinitive
The committee esteemed the proposal to be both practical and financially responsible.
pattern: esteem + noun + to be + adjective
Ananya esteemed her mentor as the person who had shaped her entire approach to medicine.
The panel of judges esteemed the young musician worthy of the highest award.
We would esteem it a favor if you joined the advisory board this year.
文法句型
esteem + noun + (to be/as) + noun/adjective
would esteem it + adjective/noun + to-infinitive
用法筆記
This sense is almost entirely restricted to formal writing and polite fixed expressions. The pattern 'would esteem it + noun + to-infinitive' (e.g., 'I would esteem it a kindness...') is a hallmark of very formal English. In everyday language, use 'consider', 'regard as', or 'think of as' instead.