deemed; deeming; deems
: to come to think or judge : consider
deemed it wise to go slow
those whom she deemed worthy
a movie deemed appropriate for all ages
: to have an opinion : believe
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Originally, deem meant "to legally condemn." The word is still frequently used in contexts pertaining to the law but with the general meaning "to judge" or "to decide after inquiry and deliberation," as in "The act was deemed unlawful" or "The defendant is deemed to have agreed to the contract." Outside of the law, deem usually means simply "to consider."
Examples of deem in a Sentence
The principal will take whatever action she deems appropriate in this case.
I deem it fitting that we mark this solemn occasion with a day of prayer and thanksgiving.
Recent Examples on the Web
Temporary Protected Status is a designation that can be granted by the Homeland Security secretary to people in the United States if conditions in their homelands are deemed unsafe for return due to a natural disaster, political instability or other dangerous conditions.
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Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
The penalty resulted from the FIA deeming that Bearman did not leave enough room for the Williams car.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Investigators at the Contra Costra Sheriff’s Department deemed her report unfounded.
—Gina Barton, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
The vet deemed that the pup could be safely released back into the wild the following day, per WSAZ 3.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deem
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
The penalty resulted from the FIA deeming that Bearman did not leave enough room for the Williams car.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Investigators at the Contra Costra Sheriff’s Department deemed her report unfounded.
—Gina Barton, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
The vet deemed that the pup could be safely released back into the wild the following day, per WSAZ 3.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deem
Cite this Entry
“Deem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deem. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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