Vocabulary Spotlight

Deem

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition: To consider or regard in a specified way.

“The project was deemed successful by all members of the team.”

Pronunciation

[deem]

Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words

Synonyms

Consider
Judge
Regard
View
Believe

Antonyms

Disregard
Ignore
Doubt
Dispute
Question

Related Words

Deemed (verb)

Word Origin

The word “deem” originated from Old English “deman,” which meant “to judge or condemn.” It evolved to mean “to consider” or “regard as” in Middle English.

Word Family

Verb: Deem – To consider in a specific way.

Mnemonics

Think of “deem” as “to deem something as it seems” — to regard it as something based on perception or belief.

Industry-specific Usage

Legal

In legal contexts, to deem means to consider something in a specified way by law, such as deeming a contract valid or invalid.

Corporate

In business, executives might deem certain policies effective based on performance evaluations.

Education

Teachers may deem a student ready for advancement based on their academic performance.

In Context

To deem is to hold an opinion or conclusion about something. This can apply to personal judgments or official decisions, making the term versatile in legal, business, and social contexts.

Vocabulary Challenges

1. What does “deem” mean?

To consider in a particular way
To disregard
To forget
To approve without review

“To consider in a particular way” is correct, as deem means to hold an opinion about something.

2. Fill in the blank: The committee ______ the proposal worthy of further discussion.

ignored
dismissed
deemed
overlooked

“Deemed” is correct, as it conveys a judgment of worthiness.

3. When might you “deem” something?

When ignoring details
When automatically accepting something
When following rules without judgment
When forming an opinion

“When forming an opinion” is correct, as deeming involves making a judgment or evaluation.