cheer

[ cheer ]

/ tʃɪər /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cheer 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: 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.

Nearby words

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

Idioms

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 MORE SYNONYMS FOR cheer ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR cheer

10 discourage, depress.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR cheer ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

well-cheered, adjective

Synonym study

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cheers

No cheers for those who push and vote against taking climate change seriously.
Jesus Wasn’t Born Rich. Think About It.|Gene Robinson|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"We're not anti-police, we're anti-police brutality," a member of the Justice League told the crowd, to cheers.
Justice League Vigil for Slain NYPD Officers Asks Whose Life Matters|Olivia Nuzzi|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the occasion is even more special when you can cheers with some funky flutes.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Carrie Bradshaw in Your Life|Allison McNearney|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is republished here with permission from Kael's daughter; please enjoy the review, originally titled, “Three Cheers.”
The Stacks: Pauline Kael's Talking Heads Obsession|Pauline Kael|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The appeals court ruling was greeted with cheers from many corners of Nevada and the legal community generally.
Gay Weddings Come to Las Vegas’s Elvis Chapel|John L. Smith|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His soldiers broke into cheers, but he sternly stopped them, with the advice to wait till the Hartford was sunk.
Dewey and Other Naval Commanders|Edward S. Ellis
And the men who have left their regiments on the field send up three cheers for Buell.
Life of Wm. Tecumseh Sherman.|W. Fletcher Johnson
The men on board cheered, and their cheers seemed to quicken the action of the boatmen.
The Von Toodleburgs|F. Colburn Adams
The cheers that acclaimed his mention of the President drowned his voice for several moments.
Current History, Vol. VIII, No. 3, June 1918|Various
Cheers were raised here for the old “Sociables,” who never felt so virtuous in all their lives.
Follow My leader|Talbot Baines Reed

British Dictionary definitions for cheers (1 of 2)

cheers

/ (tʃɪəz) /

sentence substitute informal, mainly British

a drinking toast

goodbye! cheerio!

thanks!

British Dictionary definitions for cheers (2 of 2)

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

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 cheers

cheer

In addition to the idioms beginning with cheer

cheer on
cheer up

also see:

three cheers

cheer

noun

interjection

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of cheer

SYNONYMS FOR cheer

ANTONYMS FOR cheer

Related forms

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for cheers

British Dictionary definitions for cheers (1 of 2)

cheers

sentence substitute informal, mainly British

British Dictionary definitions for cheers (2 of 2)

cheer

verb

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for cheer

Idioms and Phrases with cheers

cheer