rah-rah
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does rah-rah mean? Rah-rah is an adjective used to describe an enthusiastic attitude or spirit or actions motivated by such spirit. It often implies that someone is cheering on supporting something in an uncritical or overly enthusiastic way. It’s especially associated with sports. The term is based on the word rah, which is shouted as a cheer, typically by cheerleaders or fans at sporting events. (Rah is used in traditional cheers like rah, rah, sis boom bah). Example: His rah-rah attitude about the company has prevented him from seeing its flaws.
Etymology
Origin of rah-rah
1910–15, reduplication of rah
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.
Are such distinctions too complicated for readers, needing to be buoyed by rah-rah of one kind or another?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 2026
In fairness to her and SafeSport, that’s the way it always seems to go in the tribal politics of sports rah-rah.
From Salon ● Feb. 22, 2026
They didn’t gather for some rah-rah speech about the “win or go home” game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2023
Not because he is incompetent or incapable, but because this isn’t a rah-rah, get-the-boys-fired-up-and-make-them-better-men type gig.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 22, 2023
And where was all this rah-rah stuff supposed to come from?
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
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.
