cherish
Americanverb (used with object)
-
cherishes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cherished,
past participle, past
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cherishing
present participle
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to hold or treat as dear; feel love for.
to cherish one's native land.
-
to care for tenderly; nurture.
to cherish a child.
- Antonyms:
- neglect
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to cling fondly or inveterately to.
to cherish a memory.
- Antonyms:
- relinquish
verb
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to show great tenderness for; treasure
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to cling fondly to (a hope, idea, etc); nurse
to cherish ambitions
Usage
What does cherish 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.
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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cherishernoun
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overcherishverb (used with object)
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cherishableadjective
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overcherishedadjective
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uncherishedadjective
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uncherishingadjective
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well-cherishedadjective
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cherishinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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cherishsimple
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cherishessimple
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have cherishedperfect
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has cherishedperfect
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am cherishingprogressive
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are cherishingprogressive
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is cherishingprogressive
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have been cherishingperfect progressive
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has been cherishingperfect progressive
Past
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cherishedsimple
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had cherishedperfect
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was cherishingprogressive
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were cherishingprogressive
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had been cherishingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of cherish
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English cherisshen, from Middle French cheriss- (long stem of cherir ); equivalent to cher “dear” (from Latin cārus “beloved, dear, expensive”) + -ish 2; cf. charity
Explanation
To cherish something is to care for it deeply, to treasure it, like the way you cherish the time you spend with a favorite person you don't see often. The verb cherish is related to words that mean “costly” and “beloved.” When people really value something, often because they feel emotionally connected to it, they cherish it. Many of us cherish our first cars, and later in life, we cherish the memories of those days, driving around with our friends. Generally, people don't cherish things just because they cost money; they cherish experiences that matter to them.
Vocabulary lists containing cherish
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The Balcony Scene from "Romeo and Juliet"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”
From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2026
“And when you think it matters to someone, you cherish it.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
The KMT, in its statement to The Wall Street Journal, said Cheng’s attendance at the memorial was meant “to remember history, cherish peace, and prevent cross-strait relations from ever descending into war again.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Hughes said the snails were "something to preserve and cherish like Egyptian artefacts".
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
They began to cherish their husbands and wives, protect their children, repair their homes and in general band together against the devil in their midst.
From "Sula" by Toni Morrison
Ojai loves pushing boundaries, but it also, rightly, cherishes its proud past.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
The singer unknowingly provided the soundtrack for that "first drive home that every parent cherishes".
From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2026
It is a relationship he prizes and cherishes.
From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026
And in a must-read essay, he writes that it’s a role he cherishes, but one that also has taken a physical, financial and mental toll.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 29, 2025
My mom has a few that my grandparents gave her, and she cherishes them.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
It’s designed to honor the memory of cherished animal companions that have passed away, and all Zoo guests may participate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2026
The American biographer Joseph Frank described “The Idiot” as “the most personal of all Dostoevsky’s major works, the book in which he embodies his most intimate, cherished, and sacred convictions.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
"He absolutely loved working with his supportive police colleagues, and he cherished everyday family life and spending time with our friends," says Louisa.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026
For U.S. workers, Social Security is a cherished benefit.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026
She thought, Freedom’s a hard-bought thing, not bought with dust, but bought with all of oneself—the bones, the spirit and the flesh—and once obtained it had to be cherished, no matter what the cost.
From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry
Some warned him about "cherishing your feathers", a Chinese expression for protecting one's reputation.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
Accepting that reality is helpful, as is cherishing what good moments they have.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026
Although I love a classic recipe, I wanted baking inspiration that would make me rethink everything I knew about the ones I grew up cherishing.
From Salon ● Dec. 13, 2025
What keeps the story sweet is the chemistry between Cannavale and Fitzgerald, who build a bond worth cherishing.
From New York Times ● May 30, 2024
When it was my turn, he looked at me intensely, as if he was trying to tell me that he was giving me something worth cherishing.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
