cheer
Americannoun
-
cheers
plural
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a shout of encouragement, approval, congratulation, etc..
The cheers of the fans filled the stadium.
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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!
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something that gives joy or gladness; encouragement; comfort.
words of cheer.
- Synonyms:
- solace
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a state of feeling or spirits.
She entered his room promptly at 7 a.m. with her usual good cheer.
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gladness, gaiety, or animation.
Festivities will continue all week, with events and attractions spreading holiday cheer across the city.
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food and drink.
tables laden with cheer.
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Archaic. facial expression.
interjection
verb (used with object)
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cheers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cheered,
past participle, past
-
cheering
present participle
-
to salute with shouts of approval, congratulation, triumph, etc..
The team members cheered their captain.
- Synonyms:
- applaud
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to gladden or cause joy to; inspire with cheer (often followed byup ).
The good news cheered her.
- Synonyms:
- animate, exhilarate
- Antonyms:
- dispirit, depress, dishearten, discourage
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to encourage or incite.
She cheered him on when he was about to give up.
- Synonyms:
- inspirit
verb (used without object)
-
cheers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
cheered,
past participle, past
-
cheering
present participle
-
to utter cheers of approval, encouragement, triumph, etc.
-
to become happier or more cheerful (often followed byup ).
She cheered up as soon as the sun began to shine.
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Obsolete. to be or feel in a particular state of mind or spirits.
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.
verb
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(usually foll by up) to make or become happy or hopeful; comfort or be comforted
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to applaud with shouts
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to encourage (a team, person, etc) with shouts, esp in contests
noun
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a shout or cry of approval, encouragement, etc, often using such words as hurrah! or rah! rah! rah!
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three shouts of hurrah given in unison by a group to honour someone or celebrate something
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happiness; good spirits
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state of mind; spirits (archaic, except in the phrases be of good cheer, with good cheer )
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archaic provisions for a feast; fare
Usage
What does cheer mean? A cheer is a shout or cry of encouragement, approval, or agreement, as in When the band took the stage, the crowd gave a loud cheer. Cheer is also something that gives joy or encouragement, as in a letter that contains good cheer. To cheer is to shout or cry of approval or encouragement, as in The fans cheered the home every time they made a goal. To cheer is also to inspire with cheer, as in Petting my dog always cheers me up when I’m sad. Example: The crowd cheered as the team scored the game winning touchdown.
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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cheersimple
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cheerssimple
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have cheeredperfect
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has cheeredperfect
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am cheeringprogressive
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are cheeringprogressive
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is cheeringprogressive
-
have been cheeringperfect progressive
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has been cheeringperfect progressive
Past
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cheeredsimple
-
had cheeredperfect
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was cheeringprogressive
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were cheeringprogressive
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had been cheeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of cheer
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English chere “face,” from Anglo-French; compare Old French chiere, from Late Latin cara “face, head,” from Greek kárā “head”
Explanation
A cheer is what you shout at a sporting event when you cheer your team on, showing your enthusiasm and support. Often there's a lot of cheer or good spirits at these games, unless of course your favorite team loses. The word cheer comes from the Old French chiere, meaning "face." When you cheer someone on, you show approval, whether on your face through a smile, or by shouting encouragement. Cheer is also a quality of being sunny or happy. You can cheer someone up by being silly or entertaining. Or, you could raise a glass to them and toast, "Cheers!"
Vocabulary lists containing cheer
Instead of "Said": Words for Upbeat Banter
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 2
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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:
A little cheer rose for 79-year-old Hwang Sun-hee after she managed to place an online order at a training session in South Korea, which has one of the world's starkest digital divides for seniors.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
Many readers have told me that these passages made them laugh in recognition of our shared language of hostility mixed with cheer mixed with save-the-dates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
There was even a cheer of relief when Daniela Avanzini survived a complicated lift in the dance routine for Gabriella.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
Let’s all join in a big pep squad cheer — gimme an E! — for Eric Sondheimer’s 50th anniversary covering high school sports in Southern California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
Trying to cheer him up, I added, “I got good news, Papá. I was elected student body president and my friend was elected treasurer.”
From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez
The sight of Palmer and Rogers warming up had gladdened the hearts of many, turning jeers to cheers.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
It ended with Julius Caesar, who was proclaimed dictator for life to the cheers of the people.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
The defense had stacked the jury with a demographic they suspected would be sympathetic to Flynn — older women — and he was acquitted, amid courtroom cheers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Got one of biggest cheers from Newcastle fans for a meaty challenge on Tonali.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
The roar of the audience drowned out my own cheers for the thirteen newly selected members of the USA women’s junior team.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
But even as convention goers cheered Trump on, many seemed eager to discuss the 2028 presidential election.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
In the past couple of months, equity investors cheered soaring profits at big companies, shrugged off jitters in the bond market and nudged megacap tech shares back near records.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Investors have cheered the cuts, seeing them as a sign Volkswagen can cut costs to compete with cheaper Chinese rivals.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
After being taken out at halftime, all six players cheered on the backups and joked with each other about everything and nothing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
The crowd was with her now, and people clapped and cheered her on.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
At the top of the dugout stairs, he put his hand over his heart and acknowledged the cheering crowd.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
Social media platforms are littered with cheering sections gleefully anticipating mass unemployment in creative industries.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
By late 1945, while the U.S. and others were cheering the defeat of Japan, something bigger was brewing in Asia.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Women, and especially mothers, are not cheering Clancy on, but are largely calling for some nuance and care.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
“I didn’t even hear my name because everyone in seventh period started cheering, and I had to ask someone who won. I was sure it was Julie.”
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
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.
