cheer

¹cheer

noun \ˈchir\

Definition of CHEER

1

a obsolete : face

b archaic : facial expression

2

: state of mind or heart : spirit <be of good cheer — Matthew 9:2(Authorized Version)>

3

: lightness of mind and feeling : animation, gaiety

4

: hospitable entertainment : welcome

5

: food and drink for a feast : fare

6

: something that gladdens <words of cheer>

7

: a shout of applause or encouragement

Examples of CHEER

1. The audience let out a cheer.
2. Loud cheers were coming from the bleachers.
3. The star was greeted with cheers.
4. Let's spread a little holiday cheer.
5. The cheerleaders did a cheer for the home team.

Origin of CHEER

Middle English chere face, cheer, from Anglo-French, face, from Medieval Latin cara, probably from Greek kara head, face — more at cerebral

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to CHEER

Synonyms

mirth, cheerfulness, cheeriness, festivity, gaiety (also gayety), gayness, glee, gleefulness, hilarity, jocundity, joviality, merriment, merriness, mirthfulness

Antonyms

booing, hissing

Related Words

frivolity, levity; jollification, jollity, reveling (or revelling), revelry; brightness, buoyancy, good-humoredness, good-naturedness, humor, sunniness; gamesomeness, insouciance, lightheartedness, playfulness, sportiveness; buffoonery, clownishness, flippancy, funning, jest, jesting, jocoseness, jocosity, jocularity, joking, joshing; animation, giddiness, jauntiness, liveliness, perkiness, vivacity; joyfulness, joyousness, jubilance, rejoicing; frolicking, gamboling (or gambolling), rollicking, romping

Near Antonyms

blues, dejection, depression, despondence, forlornness, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness; bile, gloom, melancholy, sourness, spleen; earnestness, graveness, gravity, grimness, seriousness, soberness, sobersidedness, solemnity, solemnness; discontent, disgruntlement, moodiness; dolefulness, dolorousness, joylessness, mournfulness, plaintiveness, woe, woefulness; blackness, darkness, gloominess, glumness; desolateness, desolation; heartbreak, miserableness, misery, mourning, wretchedness

Rhymes with CHEER

beer, bier, blear, cere, clear, dear, deer, Deere, drear, ear, fear, fere, fleer, gear, hear, here, jeer, leer, mere, mir, near, peer, pier, Pierre, queer, rear, schmear, sear, seer, sere, shear, sheer, skirr, smear, sneer, spear, speer, sphere, steer, tear, tier, Trier, Tyr, veer, weir, year

²cheer

verb

Definition of CHEER

transitive verb

1

a : to instill with hope or courage : comfort —usually used with up

b : to make glad or happy —usually used with up

2

: to urge on or encourage especially by shouts <cheered the team on>

3

: to applaud with shouts

intransitive verb

1

obsolete : to be mentally or emotionally disposed

2

: to grow or be cheerful : rejoice —usually used with up

3

: to utter a shout of applause or triumph

— cheer·er noun

Examples of CHEER

1. The crowd cheered as he crossed the finish line.
2. We were cheering for you all the way!
3. The crowd cheered him as he crossed the finish line.
4. Their fans cheered them to victory.
5. Supporters cheered the court's decision.
6. Investors were cheered by good economic news.

First Known Use of CHEER

14th century

Related to CHEER

Synonyms

accredit, applaud, acclaim, crack up, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout

Antonyms

knock, pan, slam

Related Words

bravo, clap, rise (to); ballyhoo; approve, commend, endorse (also indorse), favor, recommend, root (for), support; celebrate, emblazon, eulogize, extol (also extoll), glorify, magnify, sing; adulate, belaud, flatter, overpraise; deify, idolize

Near Antonyms

belittle, discommend, disparage, put down; blame, censure, reprehend, reprobate; admonish, chide, criticize, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove; castigate, excoriate, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), skewer, slag [chiefly British], vilify