cheer

[ cheer ]

/ tʃɪər /

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See synonyms for: cheer / cheered / cheering / cheers on Thesaurus.com

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: She entered his room promptly at 7 a.m. with her usual good cheer.

gladness, gaiety, or animation: Festivities will continue all week, with events and attractions spreading holiday cheer across the city.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR cheer

3 solace.

5 joy, mirth, glee, merriment.

9 applaud.

10 exhilarate, animate.

11 inspirit.

See synonyms for cheer on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR cheer

10 discourage, dishearten, depress, dispirit.

See antonyms for cheer on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about 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

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”

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

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

well-cheered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cheer in a sentence

This year, marketers are turning more and more to influencers to spread holiday cheer.
‘Everyone is grasping for nostalgia and happiness’: Why marketers are ringing in the holiday season with more influencers|Kristina Monllos|December 2, 2020|Digiday
Households with close quarters and slipping masks over holiday cheers isn’t going to help the worsening situation, no matter how cozy you may feel in your hometown.
The CDC’s Thanksgiving warning isn’t really about travel|Sy Mukherjee|November 20, 2020|Fortune
In Jordan, Gordon’s district, the two sports girls were most interested in were archery and cheer, both of which are not sanctioned by the UHSAA.
Sam Gordon went viral as a football star. Now she’s suing to give more girls a chance to play.|Roman Stubbs|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
The crowd, which numbered in the tens of thousands, gave him a thunderous cheer when he took the stage.
The strange, one-of-a-kind political campaign that almost landed Walter Johnson in Congress|Frederic J. Frommer|October 29, 2020|Washington Post

When cheer gyms reopened in July, Patrick Henry cheer coaches called practices indoors at the CheerForce gym in El Cajon.
School Sports Became ‘Clubs’ Amid the Pandemic – Now Two Coaches Are Out|Ashly McGlone|September 17, 2020|Voice of San Diego
I have to admit that while I was watching this, I was cheering her on, but with a little uneasiness.
Is Bigger Better for St. Vincent?|David Yaffe|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Verdict leaves supporters cheering and opponents gnashing their teeth in frustration.
Mubarak’s Acquittal Signals Complete Triumph of Military Over Arab Spring|Jamie Dettmer|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then he stood up and essentially told a cheering Austin crowd that he would never surrender to the president.
Which Ted Cruz is Going to Washington?|Tim Mak|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the strangest moment in the show was when Cruise dragged Holmes out to the cheering crowd.
How Can Katie Holmes Escape Tom Cruise—and ‘Dawson’s Creek’?|Tim Teeman|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No, they were cheering for the Russian victory in World War Two.
Prisoners Get Cultural Fix with 8-Tracks and Bootleg Cassettes|Daniel Genis|August 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Presently the aeroplane came into sight again and was greeted with a sudden roar of cheering.
Uncanny Tales|Various
And then the cadets marched around and across the campus, waving their firebrands, and singing and cheering lustily.
The Mystery at Putnam Hall|Arthur M. Winfield
Bobby Hargrew started the cheering; but it was Laura who reached Jess first and hugged her tight.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
But the groom who took care of them sprang instantly after them, and kept swimming beside them, guiding and cheering them.
The Nursery, January 1873, Vol. XIII.|Various
This caused many a burst of cheering from the crowds, as the fact and its import became gradually known.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for cheer

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with cheer

cheer

In addition to the idioms beginning with cheer

cheer on
cheer up

also see:

three cheers

cheer

OTHER WORDS FOR cheer

OPPOSITES FOR cheer

Idioms about cheer

Origin of cheer

synonym study for cheer

OTHER WORDS FROM cheer

Words related to cheer

How to use cheer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cheer

Derived forms of cheer

Word Origin for cheer

Other Idioms and Phrases with cheer