cheer

[ cheer ]

/ tʃɪər /

noun

a shout of encouragement, approval, congratulation, etc.: The cheers of the fans filled the stadium.

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!

something that gives joy or gladness; encouragement; comfort: words of cheer.

a state of feeling or spirits: Their good cheer overcame his depression.

gladness, gaiety, or animation: full of cheer and good spirits.

food and drink: tables laden with cheer.

Archaic. facial expression.

interjection

cheers, (used as a salutation or toast.)

verb (used with object)

to salute with shouts of approval, congratulation, triumph, etc.: The team members cheered their captain.

to gladden or cause joy to; inspire with cheer (often followed by up): The good news cheered her.

to encourage or incite: She cheered him on when he was about to give up.

verb (used without object)

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

to become happier or more cheerful (often followed by up): She cheered up as soon as the sun began to shine.

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

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Idioms for cheer

be of good cheer, (used as an exhortation to be cheerful): Be of good cheer! Things could be much worse.

with good cheer, cheerfully; willingly: She accepted her lot with good cheer.

Origin of cheer

1175–1225; Middle English chere face < Anglo-French; compare Old French chiere < Late Latin cara face, head < Greek kárā head

SYNONYMS FOR cheer

3 solace.

5 joy, mirth, glee, merriment.

9 applaud.

10 exhilarate, animate.

11 inspirit.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR cheer ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR cheer

10 discourage, depress.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR cheer ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for cheer

10. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM cheer

cheer·er, nouncheer·ing·ly, adverbun·cheered, adjectiveun·cheer·ing, adjective

well-cheered, adjective

Words nearby cheer

cheeked, cheekpiece, cheektowaga, cheeky, cheep, cheer, cheer on, cheer up, cheerer-upper, cheerful, cheerio

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for cheer up

cheer

/ (tʃɪə) /

verb

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

to applaud with shouts

(when tr, sometimes foll by on) to encourage (a team, person, etc) with shouts, esp in contests

noun

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

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

happiness; good spirits

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

archaic provisions for a feast; fare

Derived forms of cheer

cheerer, nouncheeringly, adverb

Word Origin for cheer

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

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

Idioms and Phrases with cheer up (1 of 2)

cheer up

Become or make happy, raise the spirits of, as in This fine weather should cheer you up. This term may also be used as an imperative, as Shakespeare did (2 Henry IV, 4:4): “My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself.” [Late 1500s]

Idioms and Phrases with cheer up (2 of 2)

cheer

In addition to the idioms beginning with cheer

cheer on
cheer up

also see:

three cheers

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cheer