cheerleading

[cheer-lee-ding]

noun

the action or skill of a cheerleader.

Origin of cheerleading

First recorded in 1950–55; cheer + leading¹

cheerlead

[cheer-leed]

verb (used with object), cheer·led, cheer·lead·ing.

to act as cheerleader for.
to encourage by or as if by cheerleading.

verb (used without object), cheer·led, cheer·lead·ing.

to act as cheerleader.

Origin of cheerlead

by back formation from cheerleader or cheerleading

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for cheerleading

Contemporary Examples of cheerleading

And yet his Putin cheerleading increasingly crosses the line into denial or outright recycling of Kremlin propaganda.
Meet Stephen F. Cohen, Vladimir Putin's Best Friend in the American Media
Cathy Young
March 16, 2014
It took a multistate manhunt and a little bit of luck to find Anderson, who disappeared after cheerleading practice on August 3.
Hannah Anderson Found! Five Things to Know About the Kidnapped Teen
August 11, 2013
In the film, Jones tackles a water-gun-wielding mascot, goes skating, and delivers an impassioned speech about cheerleading.
Oscar Nominees’ Most Embarrassing Roles: Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence & More (VIDEO)
Marlow Stern
February 7, 2013
Santana gets into college on a cheerleading scholarship but wants to throw that away to pursue her artistic dreams.
‘Homeland,’ ‘Revenge,’ ‘The Good Wife,’ ‘Sons of Anarchy’ and More: Where We Left Off
Jace Lacob, Maria Elena Fernandez
September 10, 2012
For 16-year-old Addy Hanlon, there are really only two things that matter in the world: Cheerleading and her best friend, Beth.
This Week’s Hot Reads: July 23, 2012, All-Fiction Edition
Mythili Rao
July 23, 2012