2 syllables: es, teemed. Stress on teemed.
is-TEEMD
/ɪˈstimd/
esteemed is pronounced is-TEEMD (/ɪˈstimd/). It has two syllables (es-teemed), with the stress on "teemed". Esteemed means held in high regard or respected. It can describe a person or institution that earns widespread admiration, or refer to something regarded with high esteem. The word conveys formal admiration or honor, and is often used in professional or scholarly contexts to indicate significant regard or prestige.
Esteemed means held in high regard or respected. It can describe a person or institution that earns widespread admiration, or refer to something regarded with high esteem. The word conveys formal admiration or honor, and is often used in professional or scholarly contexts to indicate significant regard or prestige.
"The esteemed professor delivered the keynote address to a packed auditorium."
"She was seated among the esteemed guests at the awards ceremony."
"The journal is widely read, by many esteemed scholars in the field."
Pronounced ih-STEEMD (IPA US/UK/AU: /ɪˈstiːmd/). The primary stress falls on the second syllable. Start with a short, lax initial vowel /ɪ/, then a clear long /iː/ before the /m/ and final /d/. Tip: make the vowel cluster a single smooth glide: /ɪˈstiːmd/. Mouth position: relaxed jaw, high-front tongue for /iː/, lips neutral to slightly spread; the /t/ is light or flapped in fast speech, followed quickly by /iː/ and /md/.
Common errors: misplacing stress (saying es-TEEMED with weak second syllable), pronouncing /t/ too aspirated or as a separate burst before /iː/ (es-TEET-md). Another mistake is confusing /iː/ with a short /ɪ/ (es-TEEMD vs es-TEHMd). Corrections: keep secondary syllable as a crisp /iː/ and collapse the t and i into a seamless /tiː/ sequence; ensure the /m/ and final /d/ are clearly articulated but not overemphasized. Practicing with a light alveolar stop before /iː/ helps maintain the smooth, formal feel.
US/UK/AU pronunciation share /ɪˈstiːmd/ with primary stress on the second syllable. Differences lie in t-voicing and rhoticity: US typically r-colouring is minimal here since /t/ precedes /iː/ and final /d/; UK often favors a crisper /t/ release, sometimes a glottal stop in rapid speech, while AU tends to a more relaxed, slightly longer /iː/ vowel and a softer /d/. Overall vowel quality remains /iː/, but timing and flapper of /t/ can vary.
The challenge lies in the vowel sequence /ɪˈstiːm-/ where the short /ɪ/ quickly transitions into a long /iː/ while maintaining a tight, even rhythm. The /t/ can be unreleased in fast speech or blend with the following /iː/ making the sequence sound like /tiː/ without a clear stop. Also, the final /md/ cluster requires smooth coarticulation without adding a vowel between /m/ and /d/. Mastery comes from practicing the transition between the lax /ɪ/ and the tense /iː/ and keeping the /t/ crisp.
A unique aspect is the tight coupling of the /t/ with the long /iː/; in careful speech, you’ll hear a short but noticeable stop before the long vowel, creating a clean /t iː/ sequence. In quick speech, this can blur to a light /t/ or even a quick /d/ blend, so attention to a brief, precise /t/ helps preserve the word’s formal tone. Paying attention to the vowel length before /m/ also supports the overall metered rhythm.
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Esteemed derives from the past participle of the French estimer, meaning to value or esteem, which itself comes from Latin aestimare, meaning to value, estimate, judge. The Latin root aestim- is tied to value and judgment. In Middle English, esteeming carried the sense of valuing or valuing highly. The form esteemed appears with the -ed participial ending, aligning with adjectives formed from past participles in English (e.g., esteemed person, esteemed guest). Early records show usage in formal writing to denote high regard, often in moral or intellectual contexts. Over time, the word shifted from a general sense of value to a more localized sense of social prestige or professional honor, culminating in its common contemporary use to describe persons, institutions, or works recognized for their high standing. The word frequently appears in high-register prose, diplomacy, and academic discourse, preserving its sense of formal regard and reputation. First known use in English literature dates to the 15th century, with the semantic core stabilizing around “valued highly” by the 17th century and onward, widely adopted in both British and American English.
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Words that rhyme with "esteemed"
-med sounds
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