cherish
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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
-
to cling fondly or inveterately to.
to cherish a memory.
- Antonyms:
- relinquish
verb
-
to show great tenderness for; treasure
-
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.
Related Words
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
- cherishable adjective
- cherisher noun
- cherishingly adverb
- overcherish verb (used with object)
- overcherished adjective
- uncherished adjective
- uncherishing adjective
- well-cherished adjective
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; 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.
"We should all cherish what we have been gifted."
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
A new study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly shows that young men who favor the trad lifestyle don’t honor and cherish tradwives — they hold them in contempt.
From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026
America loves a winner, but this film teaches us to cherish our losers, too.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
He says the crush of rippling flags is an image he’ll cherish forever — more pink-blue-and-white-striped trans flags than he’d ever seen in one place in his lifetime.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 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
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.
