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.
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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
Love Letter Words for Valentine's Day
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The Balcony Scene from "Romeo and Juliet"
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Metamorphosis
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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:
After Rangzen's death, the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Penpa Tsering, urged all Tibetans to "cherish" their lives.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
You can find a ho-hum plea for unity in her answer, as well as a guarded concession that Thanksgiving is a holiday that the vast majority of Americans cherish.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
“We created a sense of family and every decision was made together. I know that doesn’t always happen. So I really tried to cherish every minute of it this season.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
"I miss you so much already, the laughs we had and all the memories I will cherish for ever," she said.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
“So we give peace to each other, and cherish it.”
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
Ojai loves pushing boundaries, but it also, rightly, cherishes its proud past.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
She suggested he buy little vintage bells that he now cherishes and displays in his home.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 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
“We believe in a God who gives peace and cherishes it,” she says.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
O'Meara said he was "deeply saddened" by Montgomery's death, calling him a "cherished friend and tireless supporter of MND NSW".
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Recently, David said, he was “just cleaning things out” and decided it was time to part ways with the cherished item.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
While several albums by the Band have become cherished parts of the classic rock canon, Levon never raked in big money.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
"I won't stand by while these cherished local spaces disappear, replaced by boarded-up windows and 'For Sale' signs," he wrote.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
All I want is to be cherished, she thought, and here I am talking gibberish with a selfish man.
From "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson
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
“His was a life lived with passion, a life that exemplified the beauty of pursuing one’s dreams and the importance of cherishing every moment,” the family said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 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
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.
