esteemed

American

[ih-steemd] / ɪˈstimd /

adjective

regarded highly or favorably; respected or admired.

Her teaching ability, leadership skills, and winsome personality made her a highly esteemed member of the school staff.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of esteem.

Other Word Forms

unesteemed adjective
well-esteemed adjective

Etymology

Origin of esteemed

First recorded in 1545–55; esteem + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective; esteem + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb

Explanation

If lots of people respect you and you're known around town as a wise and intelligent person whose opinion matters, then you're esteemed. Esteemed comes from the verb esteem, which means "to think valuable." If you are esteemed, then people think you're a valuable person to have around, and have a lot of respect for you. If you're hosting a dinner party with a special guest, an elderly man who has traveled the world and written many books, you could introduce him as your esteemed guest.

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Vocabulary lists containing esteemed

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

However, their report has also provoked a vicious backlash from equally esteemed scientists who label it as fundamentally flawed.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

But the partnership unraveled when Arena used AI for sponsored content on Sports Illustrated’s website, which sounded alarm bells at the esteemed publication.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Several esteemed opera houses, ballet companies and artists working within these spaces publicly lambasted Chalamet’s comments.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

And this ambivalence proves infectious as they grow up, marry and have a child, with Dick becoming an esteemed novelist while Elle takes up English teaching.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

“I cannot thank you enough, esteemed guest,” said the Archivist, stiffly rising from his little fire.

From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023