cherish
Americanverb (used with object)
-
cherishes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cherished,
past participle, past
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cherishing
present participle
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to hold or treat as dear; feel love for.
to cherish one's native land.
-
to care for tenderly; nurture.
to cherish a child.
- Antonyms:
- neglect
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to cling fondly or inveterately to.
to cherish a memory.
- Antonyms:
- relinquish
verb
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to show great tenderness for; treasure
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to cling fondly to (a hope, idea, etc); nurse
to cherish ambitions
Usage
What does cherish mean? Cherish means to treasure—to hold or treat something as dear and often loved. The word implies a deep and active appreciation of the person or thing that’s cherished. The word is especially applied to loved ones, relationships, and fond memories of the time spent with such people. It can also be used in the context of possessions that are very special to you, such as a family heirloom or a favorite toy from childhood. Still, such objects are usually cherished due to their connection to a loved one. For example, you might cherish a locket with a photo of your grandmother in it, or a stuffed animal that your dad won for you at a carnival. Things that you cherish can be described with the adjective cherished, as in These are my most cherished possessions. Example: I love my grandma so much and cherish the time we get to spend together.
Synonym Usage
Cherish, foster, harbor imply giving affection, care, or shelter to something. Cherish suggests regarding or treating something as an object of affection or as valuable: to cherish a friendship. Foster implies sustaining and nourishing something with care, especially in order to promote, increase, or strengthen it: to foster a hope; to foster enmity. Harbor suggests giving shelter to or entertaining something undesirable, especially evil thoughts or intentions: to harbor malice or a grudge.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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cherishernoun
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overcherishverb (used with object)
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cherishableadjective
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overcherishedadjective
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uncherishedadjective
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uncherishingadjective
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well-cherishedadjective
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cherishinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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cherishsimple
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cherishessimple
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have cherishedperfect
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has cherishedperfect
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am cherishingprogressive
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are cherishingprogressive
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is cherishingprogressive
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have been cherishingperfect progressive
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has been cherishingperfect progressive
Past
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cherishedsimple
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had cherishedperfect
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was cherishingprogressive
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were cherishingprogressive
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had been cherishingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of cherish
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English cherisshen, from Middle French cheriss- (long stem of cherir ); equivalent to cher “dear” (from Latin cārus “beloved, dear, expensive”) + -ish 2; cf. charity
Explanation
To cherish something is to care for it deeply, to treasure it, like the way you cherish the time you spend with a favorite person you don't see often. The verb cherish is related to words that mean “costly” and “beloved.” When people really value something, often because they feel emotionally connected to it, they cherish it. Many of us cherish our first cars, and later in life, we cherish the memories of those days, driving around with our friends. Generally, people don't cherish things just because they cost money; they cherish experiences that matter to them.
Vocabulary lists containing cherish
Love Letter Words for Valentine's Day
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The Balcony Scene from "Romeo and Juliet"
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Metamorphosis
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"I cherish the time I spent with Bronwen exploring one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen."
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
“We will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!”
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026
“We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry. Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
In his resignation letter, Wright said of his voluntary position, “I will always be proud of the years I spent serving this community. I will always cherish the relationships I have built.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
A Land of Opportunity More than ever, Americans cherish the belief that it is possible to become rich.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
Ojai loves pushing boundaries, but it also, rightly, cherishes its proud past.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
Adams is a curious sort, a player Clarke cherishes but who has never evoked major support among the Tartan Army.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
The singer unknowingly provided the soundtrack for that "first drive home that every parent cherishes".
From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2026
Aleys cherishes the tiny, exquisite psalter her mother inherited from an abbess aunt.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2026
“We believe in a God who gives peace and cherishes it,” she says.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
“Everybody to Kenmure Street” is the ultimate what-did-I-miss movie, a life-affirming corrective, his respectful curiosity and everyone’s cherished memories in singular harmony.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
There’s also a physical reason people don’t remove cherished items from their past.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
So began one community's fight to save a cherished symbol of their neighbourhood.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
"The Devil's Arrows are deeply cherished by local communities, and we're delighted that this discovery adds a new chapter to their story."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026
We went out for ice cream and she made me a special congratulations card that I still have today, tucked in a box of cherished things under my bed.
From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence
Debí Tirar Más Fotos translates to "I should have taken more photos", with an underlying message of cherishing moments and memories.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
Accepting that reality is helpful, as is cherishing what good moments they have.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026
Her Taiwanese heritage and my Swedish background have cemented a foundation that grows and flourishes beyond all barriers, cherishing what SoCal and the world have to offer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2025
What keeps the story sweet is the chemistry between Cannavale and Fitzgerald, who build a bond worth cherishing.
From New York Times ● May 30, 2024
Retaining our humanity, cherishing our heritage, we fought the depravity of the Nazis with subtle forms of resistance.
From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
