cheek

noun

\ˈchēk

Definition of cheek

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the fleshy side of the face below the eye and above and to the side of the mouth broadly : the lateral aspect of the head

2 : something suggestive of the human cheek in position or form especially : one of two laterally paired parts

3 : insolent boldness and self-assurance

4 : buttock sense 1

cheek

verb

cheeked; cheeking; cheeks

Definition of cheek (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

chiefly British

: to speak rudely or impudently to

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Choose the Right Synonym for cheek

Noun

temerity, audacity, hardihood, effrontery, nerve, cheek, gall, chutzpah mean conspicuous or flagrant boldness. temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger. had the temerity to refuse audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence. an entrepreneur with audacity and vision hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance. admired for her hardihood effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy. outraged at his effrontery nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery. the nerve of that guy has the cheek to call herself a singer had the gall to demand proof the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

Examples of cheek in a Sentence

Noun

He kissed her on the cheek. He's got a cheek ignoring us like that.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Here, 6 ways to keep your eyes, lips, and cheeks protected, wherever that airplane takes you this season. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "6 Celebrity Facialists Share Their Favorite Airplane Beauty Staples," 17 Nov. 2018 To get Camila's flushed glow, Beau applied the $5 product to Camila's lips and cheeks. Swatching the shade on his arm, the makeup artist showed off how the product was packed full of subtle color. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "Camila Mendes Wore Eos Holiday Lip Balm as Blush at the People’s Choice Awards," 13 Nov. 2018 My 5 year old daughter had a traumatic facial injury last Christmas which resulted in 12 stitches that started between her eyebrows, down the side of her nose and onto her cheek. — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, "Carrie Underwood Shared a Close-up Look at Her Scar, and People Have a Lot of Opinions," 8 Oct. 2018 To build each monochromatic look, makeup artists used just one product on the models' eyes, lips, and cheeks. — Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, "These Makeup Looks at Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show Were Done Entirely With Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Lipstick," 13 Sep. 2018 The gray itself is a shock of silvery white interspersed with some brown strands on the nape of my neck and along my cheeks. — Jessica Berger Gross, Longreads, "Gone Gray," 10 July 2018 People go to Cassandra and kiss her bruised cheeks. — Anna Rose Macarthur, Anchorage Daily News, "Far from Anchorage where Cassandra Tinker was killed, a family cuts fish and grieves," 10 July 2018 One doctor puffed out his cheeks, looking perplexed, while another leaned close to her screen, eyes squinting. — Robyn Dixon, latimes.com, "China plans to dominate AI, with a vanguard of robotic doctors like 'Biomind'," 6 July 2018 The naturally-growing plant eases altitude sickness, and people trekking up high altitudes used to stuff wads of coca into their cheeks and chew on it. — National Geographic, "How Ancient Mummies Helped This Soccer Player Get to the World Cup," 26 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Three years later, with apartment buildings now cheek-by-jowl with the club, those same residents, joined by dozens more, raised concerns in emails and public meetings about potential noise from the roof. — Alan Neuhauser, Washington Post, "A D.C. strip club reopens to a changed neighborhood — of high-end condos and artisanal toast," 25 June 2018 Called Casting Couch, the piece depicts a paunchy, stubble-cheeked Weinstein seated on a chaise lounge in silk pajamas. — Gwynedd Stuart, Los Angeles Magazine, "How That Sculpture of Harvey Weinstein That Was Planted in Hollywood Got Made," 4 Apr. 2018 The soldiers were hollow-cheeked and drenched in sweat despite the sub-zero temperatures and the bitter wind in Paju, just 10 miles from South Korea's border with the North. — Mac William Bishop, NBC News, "North Korean ex-assassin recalls 1968: ‘The year that mattered most’," 26 Jan. 2018 Some of the old folks dance cheek to cheek, barely moving to the rhythm. — Kate Siber, USA TODAY, "Dance hall days: Texas preserves a treasured tradition," 25 Sep. 2017 On the deck of his trawler, Adam Stanwood—a barrel-chested, apple-cheeked fisherman in his 40s—uncovers a black plastic tray about two-and-a-half feet by one-and-a-half. — National Geographic, "Why Smuggling of This Ocean Creature May Skyrocket," 2 June 2017 The twins relax and hug each other, cheek pressed to cheek. — Andrea Simakis, cleveland.com, "When love and loss are multiplied - remembering a brother at Twins Days: Andrea Simakis," 13 Aug. 2017 Learn about the history of some of your favorite brands, what makes champagne, well, champagne, and leave a little rosy-cheeked after a delightful tasting. — Christina Liao, Vogue, "Why You Should Go to Champagne, France—And All the Houses You Should Visit," 31 July 2017 On the deck of his trawler, Adam Stanwood—a barrel-chested, apple-cheeked fisherman in his 40s—uncovers a black plastic tray about two-and-a-half feet by one-and-a-half. — National Geographic, "Why Smuggling of This Ocean Creature May Skyrocket," 2 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cheek.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

13 Dec 2018

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Time Traveler for cheek

The first known use of cheek was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for cheek

cheek

noun

English Language Learners Definition of cheek

: the part of the face that is below the eye and to the side of the nose and mouth

: an attitude or way of behaving that is rude and does not show proper respect

: one of the two parts of the body that a person sits on

See the full definition for cheek in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cheek

noun

\ˈchēk

Kids Definition of cheek

1 : the side of the face below the eye and above and to the side of the mouth

2 : disrespectful speech or behavior He was punished for his cheek.

cheek

noun

\ˈchēk\

Medical Definition of cheek

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the fleshy side of the face below the eye and above and to the side of the mouth broadly : the lateral aspect of the head

2 : buttock sense 1

cheek

transitive verb

Medical Definition of cheek (Entry 2 of 2)

: to conceal (medication) in the cheek for future use On March 29, two days before she committed suicide, the staff found she had been “cheeking medications” to save them for a later overdose …— Michael O'D. Moore, The Bangor (Maine) Daily News, 12 July 2000