ego

[ˈiːɡəʊ]

ego Definition

  • 1a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance
  • 2the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity

Using ego: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "ego" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    His ego was hurt by the criticism.

  • Example

    She has a big ego and always wants to be the center of attention.

  • Example

    The artist's ego is reflected in his grandiose paintings.

  • Example

    He needs to learn to control his ego.

ego Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for ego

  • pride
  • self-importance
  • self-esteem
  • self-worth
  • vanity

Antonyms for ego

Idioms Using ego

  • have an ego as big as all outdoors

    to have an extremely inflated sense of self-importance

    Example

    He thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread and has an ego as big as all outdoors.

  • put one's ego aside

    to stop thinking about oneself and one's own interests and focus on the task at hand

    Example

    In order to work together effectively, everyone needs to put their egos aside.

  • feed someone's ego

    to say or do things to make someone feel good about themselves, often to gain favor or influence

    Example

    She was always feeding his ego to get him to do what she wanted.

Phrases with ego

  • boost one's ego

    to do something to make oneself feel more confident and important

    Example

    Winning the award really boosted his ego.

  • stroke someone's ego

    to say or do something to make someone feel good about themselves

    Example

    She knew how to stroke his ego and get what she wanted.

  • let go of one's ego

    to stop being overly concerned with oneself and one's own interests

    Example

    He needed to let go of his ego and work with the team.

Origins of ego

from Latin 'ego', meaning 'I'

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Summary: ego in Brief

The term 'ego' [ˈiːɡəʊ] refers to a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance, as well as the part of the mind responsible for reality testing and personal identity. It can be reflected in behavior such as wanting to be the center of attention or having an inflated sense of self-importance. Phrases like 'boost one's ego' and idioms like 'have an ego as big as all outdoors' reflect the concept of ego in popular culture.

How do native speakers use this expression?