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: solace

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: merriment, glee, mirth, joy

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: applaud

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

   The good news cheered her.

   Synonyms: animate, exhilarate

   Antonyms: dispirit, depress, dishearten, discourage

3. to encourage or incite:

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

   Synonyms: inspirit

verb (used without object)

1. to utter cheers of approval, encouragement, triumph, etc.
2. to become happier or more cheerful (often followed by up ):

   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

/ tʃɪə /

verb

1. usually foll by up to make or become happy or hopeful; comfort or be comforted
2. to applaud with shouts
3. whentr, sometimes foll by on to encourage (a team, person, etc) with shouts, esp in contests

noun

1. a shout or cry of approval, encouragement, etc, often using such words as hurrah! or rah! rah! rah!
2. three cheers
   three cheers 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. archaic.
   provisions for a feast; fare

Derived Forms

• ˈcheeringly, adverb
• ˈcheerer, noun

Other Words From

• cheerer noun
• cheering·ly adverb
• un·cheered adjective
• un·cheering adjective
• well-cheered adjective

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 kárā “head”

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

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.

More idioms and phrases containing cheer

• three cheers

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.

Example Sentences

Jenner strides up to a police officer and offers him a can of soda, which he drinks, prompting the crowd to break out in cheers.

From Quartz

The experience will include both a cheer monitor and an audience monitor that allow viewers to connect with each other and the broadcast hosts.

From Digiday

District officials have maintained that any ongoing practices were not part of the school’s cheer program.

From Voice of San Diego

Roughly 65 students are on the school’s cheer team, including 27 on varsity, Clark said.

From Voice of San Diego

With the new school year underway, the cheer club met at Infinity Gymnastics in El Cajon this week and was scheduled to meet for the next two weeks.

From Voice of San Diego

Yet I had serious trouble understanding how to cheer on the news of Bin Laden or anyone else dying.

From The Daily Beast

You meant to chase every glass of wine with a pitcher of H2O, but the holiday cheer somehow steered you off course.

From The Daily Beast

The audience--tout Hollywood--stands to cheer his slow and painful trek from the wings to the table.

From The Daily Beast

A fire truck roars down a city street and people cheer its arrival.

From The Daily Beast

It was a cheer that we got for something that was a complete fluke.

From The Daily Beast

At last, tired of fighting an unseen foe, the men arose to their feet, and with a wild cheer sprang forward.

From Project Gutenberg

But her sympathy, and her confident belief that Alessandro might yet be found, gave unspeakable cheer to Felipe.

From Project Gutenberg

They went out of the darkness together and came back to the Earth, Leo very silent, and the Girl striving to cheer him.

From Project Gutenberg

The king heartily pledged him, thanked him for his good cheer, and departed undiscovered.

From Project Gutenberg

My servant's whip, however, soon sent them about their business, and I ventured into the parlor to see what cheer.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• buoy
• comfort
• elate
• encourage
• hearten

More About Cheer

What 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.

Where does cheer come from?

The first records of the term cheer come from the late 1100s. It ultimately comes from the Greek kárā, meaning “head.”

Cheering comes in many forms. Most of the time cheers are wild, uncontainable, and loud. But, some, such as those used by cheerleaders are planned, rehearsed, and used to inspire a certain feeling in a crowd.

Cheer can also define the state of being happy, as you would be when giving a cheer. When people propose a toast and clink glasses, they often say “Cheers!” as a sign of enjoyment or pride.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to cheer?

• cheerer (noun)
• cheeringly (adverb)
• cheerless (adjective)
• cheerful (adjective)

What are some synonyms for cheer?

• delight
• glee
• encourage
• applaud
• ovation

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

• cheerleader
• cheer on
• cheerio

What are some words that often get used in discussing cheer?

• chant
• crowd
• fun

How is cheer used in real life?

Cheer is frequently used in reference to making someone happy or the actions of someone who is joyful and will be used accordingly joyfully.

the human has been working from home the last couple days. and every so often. they let me participate in the video calls. all the other humans cheer when they see me. i am the only thing holding their company together

— Thoughts of Dog® (@dog_feelings) March 10, 2020

Niall: Having thousands of fans turn up to cheer us on in the street before we went on the Today show was just on another level…

— One Direction (@onedirection) August 28, 2014

CHEERS TO LESS STRESS AND MORE SUCCESS

— Daisy Marquez (@daisymarquez_) January 1, 2020

 

Try using cheer!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for cheer?

A. comfort
B. hearten
C. encourage
D. deny