formal
1
: respect and affection
She has won esteem for her work with cancer patients.
His movies have always enjoyed critical esteem. [=have always been praised by critics]
Please accept this gift as a token of my esteem. [=as a sign of my affection and respect]
2
—used to say how much someone or something is admired and respected
His movies have fallen in critical esteem. [=are admired less now than they were before]
—often used after holdHe holds his father in high esteem. [=he respects and admires his father]
That type of job is held in low esteem [=is poorly regarded] by most people.
esteems; esteemed; esteeming
formal
: to think very highly or favorably of (someone or something)
—usually used as (be) esteemed
She is (highly) esteemed for her work with cancer patients.
an actor esteemed [=admired] by all his peers
an esteemed author/artist/colleague
Cite this Entry
“Esteem.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/esteem. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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