cheer
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.
cheers, (used as a salutation or toast.)
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.
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.
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
1synonym study For cheer
Other words for cheer
Opposites for cheer
Other words from cheer
- cheerer, noun
- cheer·ing·ly, adverb
- un·cheered, adjective
- un·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 | DigidayHouseholds 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 | FortuneIn 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 PostThe 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 PostWhen 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.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTThen he stood up and essentially told a cheering Austin crowd that he would never surrender to the president.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTNo, 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 | THE DAILY BEASTPresently the aeroplane came into sight again and was greeted with a sudden roar of cheering.
Uncanny Tales | VariousAnd then the cadets marched around and across the campus, waving their firebrands, and singing and cheering lustily.
The Mystery at Putnam Hall | Arthur M. WinfieldBobby 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. MorrisonBut 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. | VariousThis 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
/ (tʃɪə) /
(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
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
Origin of cheer
1- See also cheers
Derived forms of cheer
- cheerer, noun
- cheeringly, adverb
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
In addition to the idioms beginning with cheer
- cheer on
- cheer up
also see:
- three cheers
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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