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
Idioms Using ego
Example
He thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread and has an ego as big as all outdoors.
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.
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.
Example
She knew how to stroke his ego and get what she wanted.
Example
He needed to let go of his ego and work with the team.
Origins of ego
from Latin 'ego', meaning 'I'
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.