cheek

1 of 2

noun

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
cheekful noun

cheek

2 of 2

verb

cheeked; cheeking; cheeks

transitive verb

chiefly British
: to speak rudely or impudently to
Choose the Right Synonym for cheek

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
In the adorable photos, Cooper smiles with his sons while sitting in the grass, giving Sebastian a sweet kiss on the cheek. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2023 Be honest, everyone, who’s got smoother cheeks, me or him? Jay Katsir, The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2023 Of course, the bronzed vibes continued on Bieber's warm, glowy cheeks. Gabi Thorne, Allure, 14 Sep. 2023 It’s got single teardrops running down cheeks, a taste for nooks of the historical record left unknown and a big heart. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2023 Lupus Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes a red scaly rash on the cheeks and nose, says Dr. Parikh. Andi Breitowich, Women's Health, 8 Sep. 2023 The telltale signs are small, white patches on your baby's gums, tongue, inside cheeks, or lips. Parents Editors, Parents, 8 Sep. 2023 To create the most natural smattering, the key is to know when to stop: dot a few spots over the bridge of your nose and then just a few where the sun hits your face on your cheeks, and that’s it. Georgia Day, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2023 Drew Kennison walked out of his house that February morning and felt snowflakes on his cheeks. Tom Hallman, oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2023
Verb
What goals can cheek filler address? Kaitlin Clark, Allure, 9 Feb. 2022 It’s been described as facial deflating given that fat is lost in all areas of the face, unlike buccal or cheek fat removal, which only takes fat out of certain areas of the face. Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2023 With this hydrating, buildable, multi-tasking stick, you're set with lip and cheek color that's also perfect for on-the-go. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2023 Incisors for nipping and gripping, canines for piercing, and cheek teeth for slicing, grinding, crushing, or all three. Riley Black, Discover Magazine, 29 Sep. 2022 Meanwhile, makeup brand Tarte released a collection of color-shifting lip and cheek oils that monitor your moods, currently going viral on the clock app. Shelby Ying Hyde, refinery29.com, 4 Jan. 2023 The line, out March 21, comprises eight product types: eye shadow palettes, potted gel eye shadows, eye gloss, false eyelashes, cheek and lip stains, a face mist, and a makeup primer just for the undereyes. Allure, 16 Mar. 2022 There's also support for Spotify Tap, a relatively new feature that lets subscribers of that streaming service directly launch the app and swap between playlists with a few button (or cheek, in this case) presses. Jeff Dunn, Ars Technica, 15 Feb. 2022 The department posted photos of the small brown and black mammal crouching fearfully in a mesh crate after capture, with bloody wounds on its nose, cheek and forehead. Tiffini Theisen, orlandosentinel.com, 18 Jan. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cheek.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cheke, from Old English cēace; akin to Middle Low German kāke jawbone

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1840, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near cheek

Cite this Entry

“Cheek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheek. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

cheek

noun
ˈchēk
1
: the fleshy side of the face below the eye and above and to the side of the mouth
2
: disrespectful speech or behavior : nerve

Medical Definition

cheek

1 of 2 noun
ˈchēk
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

cheek

2 of 2 transitive verb
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on cheek

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