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View synonyms for

cherish

[ cher-ish ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to hold or treat as dear; feel love for:

    to cherish one's native land.

  2. to care for tenderly; nurture:

    to cherish a child.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:

  3. to cling fondly or inveterately to:

    to cherish a memory.

    Antonyms:



cherish

/ ˈʃɛɪʃ /

verb

  1. to show great tenderness for; treasure
  2. to cling fondly to (a hope, idea, etc); nurse

    to cherish ambitions

“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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Derived Forms

  • ˈ, noun
  • ˈ󲹲, adjective
  • ˈ󾱲Բ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • i·· adjective
  • i· noun
  • i·Բ· adverb
  • v·i verb (used with object)
  • v·ied adjective
  • ܲ·i adjective
  • ܲ·i·Բ adjective
  • ɱ-i adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cherish1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English cherisshen, from Middle French cheriss- (long stem of cherir ); equivalent to cher “dear” (from Latin ܲ “beloved, dear, expensive”) + -ish 2; charity
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cherish1

C14: from Old French cherir, from cher dear, from Latin ܲ
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Synonym Study

Cherish, foster, harbor imply giving affection, care, or shelter to something. Cherish suggests regarding or treating something as an object of affection or as valuable: to cherish a friendship. Foster implies sustaining and nourishing something with care, especially in order to promote, increase, or strengthen it: to foster a hope; to foster enmity. Harbor suggests giving shelter to or entertaining something undesirable, especially evil thoughts or intentions: to harbor malice or a grudge.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

On Tuesday, the White House commented on Carney's win, with deputy press secretary Anna Kelly saying: "The election does not affect President Trump's plan to make Canada America's cherished 51st state."

From

Perth Museum serves as the new home of the Stone of Destiny, one of Scotland's most cherished treasures, which has returned to Perthshire after more than 700 years.

From

"Words can't express how much we have loved and cherished him and how much we always will."

From

O'Neill said she was "proud" to attend the funeral "paying her respects on behalf of everyone at home who cherished his leadership and looked to him as a spiritual and moral guide".

From

This is art so discerning and resplendent that it makes its spectator feel grateful just to witness it, a reminder that being alive is a cherished gift.

From

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More About Cherish

doescherish mean?

Cherish means to treasure—to hold or treat something as dear and often loved.

The word implies a deep and active appreciation of the person or thing that’s cherished.

The word is especially applied to loved ones, relationships, and fond memories of the time spent with such people. It can also be used in the context of possessions that are very special to you, such as a family heirloom or a favorite toy from childhood. Still, such objects are usually cherished due to their connection to a loved one. For example, you might cherish a locket with a photo of your grandmother in it, or a stuffed animal that your dad won for you at a carnival.

Things that you cherish can be described with the adjective cherished, as in These are my most cherished possessions.

Example: I love my grandma so much and cherish the time we get to spend together.

Where doescherish come from?

The first records of the word cherish come from around 1300. It comes from the Old French cherir, from cher, meaning “dear,” from the Latin ܲ (which is also the basis for the words charity and caress).

The phrase love and cherishis part of many traditional wedding vows. To cherish someone is to hold them dear—to care about them deeply in a way that makes you treasure them and show them how much you treasure them. In this way, the word implies an active appreciation. Sometimes, it’s only after we lose someone that we realize that we should have done more to cherish them.

The adjective cherished means the same thing as treasured. Things that are described as cherished usually have some deep significance to the person who cherishes them.

Did you know ... ?

are some other forms of cherish?

  • cherished (past tense verb, adjective)
  • cherishable (adjective)
  • cherisher (noun)
  • cherishingly (adverb)

are some synonyms for cherish?

  • treasure (when treasure is used as a verb)

are some words that share a root or word element with cherish?

are some words that often get used in discussing cherish?

How ischerish used in real life?

The word cherish is most commonly used in discussion of what people hold dear, especially loved ones and memories of them.

Try usingcherish!

Is the adjective cherished used correctly in the following sentence?

I’m sad to tell you that we lost our cherished dog today.

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