deem
verb
ˈdēm 
deemed; deeming; deems
transitive verb
: 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
intransitive verb
: to have an opinion : believe
Did you know?
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."
Synonyms
- allow [chiefly Southern & Midland]
- believe
- conceive
- consider
- esteem
- feel
- figure
- guess
- hold
- imagine
- judge
- reckon [chiefly dialect]
- suppose
- think
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Microsoft didn't deem important enough to make it into the focused list. 
Matthew Humphries, PCMAG, 22 Aug. 2022 What are the underlying knowledge sources that deem the innovation worthwhile? Mark S. Bauer, STAT, 12 Aug. 2022 That means the leadership may deem even a temporary JCPOA restoration worth it to help boost an economy that has been battered by sanctions and mismanagement. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Aug. 2022 Now Western media experts say the Kremlin may deem YouTube too popular to block. Sam Schechner, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2022 Vice President Kamala Harris has tried to turn what many Democrats deem a crisis — the overturning of Roe vs. Wade — into a political opportunity. Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2022 Preller hardly has needed galactic signals or seances to make waves in baseball, developing an MLB-wide reputation for making deals others deem impossible. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2022 Below, shop more overalls for women and join the long list of celebs who deem the Rachel Green-esque style perfect for warm weather. Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE.com, 26 July 2022 Such actions have seemingly become more common in the face of, what activists deem, an impending global disaster. Thomas Catenacci, Fox News, 25 July 2022 See More
Matthew Humphries, PCMAG, 22 Aug. 2022 What are the underlying knowledge sources that deem the innovation worthwhile? Mark S. Bauer, STAT, 12 Aug. 2022 That means the leadership may deem even a temporary JCPOA restoration worth it to help boost an economy that has been battered by sanctions and mismanagement. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Aug. 2022 Now Western media experts say the Kremlin may deem YouTube too popular to block. Sam Schechner, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2022 Vice President Kamala Harris has tried to turn what many Democrats deem a crisis — the overturning of Roe vs. Wade — into a political opportunity. Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2022 Preller hardly has needed galactic signals or seances to make waves in baseball, developing an MLB-wide reputation for making deals others deem impossible. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2022 Below, shop more overalls for women and join the long list of celebs who deem the Rachel Green-esque style perfect for warm weather. Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE.com, 26 July 2022 Such actions have seemingly become more common in the face of, what activists deem, an impending global disaster. Thomas Catenacci, Fox News, 25 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English demen, from Old English dēman; akin to Old High German tuomen to judge, Old English dōm doom
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Kids Definition
deem
verb
ˈdēm
deemed; deeming
: to have as an opinion
She deemed it wise to wait.
deems
verb
as in thinks
to have as an opinion I deem it fitting that we mark this solemn occasion with a day of prayer and thanksgiving Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- thinks
- believes
- considers
- feels
- figures
- supposes
- guesses
- perceives
- imagines
- conceives
- judges
- holds
- assumes
- reckons
- esteems
- allows
- accepts
- regards
- relies
- depends
- views
- trusts
- presupposes
- presumes
- concludes
- surmises
- infers
- deduces
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- suspects
- rejects
- distrusts
- doubts
- questions
- mistrusts
- discredits
- disbelieves