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View synonyms for

cheer

[cheer]

noun

  1. a shout of encouragement, approval, congratulation, etc..

    The cheers of the fans filled the stadium.

  2. a set or traditional form of shout used by spectators to encourage or show enthusiasm for an athletic team, contestant, etc., as rah! rah! rah!

  3. something that gives joy or gladness; encouragement; comfort.

    words of cheer.

    Synonyms:
  4. a state of feeling or spirits.

    She entered his room promptly at 7 a.m. with her usual good cheer.

  5. gladness, gaiety, or animation.

    Festivities will continue all week, with events and attractions spreading holiday cheer across the city.

    Synonyms: , , ,
  6. food and drink.

    tables laden with cheer.

  7. Archaic.facial expression.



interjection

  1. cheers, (used as a salutation or toast.)

verb (used with object)

  1. to salute with shouts of approval, congratulation, triumph, etc..

    The team members cheered their captain.

    Synonyms:
  2. to gladden or cause joy to; inspire with cheer (often followed byup ).

    The good news cheered her.

    Synonyms: ,
    Antonyms: , , ,
  3. to encourage or incite.

    She cheered him on when he was about to give up.

    Synonyms:

verb (used without object)

  1. to utter cheers of approval, encouragement, triumph, etc.

  2. to become happier or more cheerful (often followed byup ).

    She cheered up as soon as the sun began to shine.

  3. Obsolete.to be or feel in a particular state of mind or spirits.

cheer

/ ʃɪə /

verb

  1. (usually foll by up) to make or become happy or hopeful; comfort or be comforted

  2. to applaud with shouts

  3. to encourage (a team, person, etc) with shouts, esp in contests

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a shout or cry of approval, encouragement, etc, often using such words as hurrah! or rah! rah! rah!

  2. three shouts of hurrah given in unison by a group to honour someone or celebrate something

  3. happiness; good spirits

  4. state of mind; spirits (archaic, except in the phrases be of good cheer, with good cheer )

  5. archaicprovisions for a feast; fare

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • cheerer noun
  • cheeringly adverb
  • uncheered adjective
  • uncheering adjective
  • well-cheered adjective
  • ˈ noun
  • ˈԲ adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cheer1

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English chere “face,” from Anglo-French; compare Old French chiere, from Late Latin cara “face, head,” from Greek á “h𲹻”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cheer1

C13 (in the sense: face, welcoming aspect): from Old French chere, from Late Latin cara face, from Greek kara head
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. be of good cheer, (used as an exhortation to be cheerful).

    Be of good cheer! Things could be much worse.

  2. with good cheer, cheerfully; willingly.

    She accepted her lot with good cheer.

In addition to the idioms beginning with cheer, also see three cheers.
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Synonym Study

Cheer, gladden, enliven mean to make happy or lively. To cheer is to comfort, to restore hope and cheerfulness to (now often cheer up, when thoroughness, a definite time, or a particular point in the action is referred to): to cheer a sick person; She soon cheered him up. To gladden does not imply a state of sadness to begin with, but suggests bringing pleasure or happiness to someone: to gladden someone's heart with good news. Enliven suggests bringing vivacity and liveliness: to enliven a dull evening, a party.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“We are the voice that our parents and the older generation couldn’t be today,” Sanchez said over the sound of horns and cheers.

From

His second shot at the 14th was sublime, landing a foot from the pin, and his fist-pump celebration to raucous cheers after making birdie on 17 showed his heart – and popularity – remain undimmed.

From

But playing together for the first time, the tournament favourites looked far from comfortable from the start as Germany broke throw in the opening leg, cheered on by a vocal home crowd.

From

Thousands cheered and waved flags as King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Trooping the Colour parade to mark the monarch's official birthday.

From

It made for a potent tableau: a multi-ethnic, multiracial crowd of Angelenos cheering on the mayor as she declared that “peace begins with ICE leaving Los Angeles.”

From

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Related Words

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When To Use

does cheer mean?

A cheer is a shout or cry of encouragement, approval, or agreement, as in When the band took the stage, the crowd gave a loud cheer.Cheer is also something that gives joy or encouragement, as in a letter that contains good cheer.To cheer is to shout or cry of approval or encouragement, as in The fans cheered the home every time they made a goal.To cheer is also to inspire with cheer, as in Petting my dog always cheers me up when I’m sad.Example: The crowd cheered as the team scored the game winning touchdown.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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