cheek

play

noun \ˈchēk\

Definition of cheek

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 1

cheekful

play \-ˌfu̇l\ noun

See cheek defined for English-language learners

See cheek defined for kids

Examples of cheek in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of cheek from the Web

The former on-screen couple, portrayed by Alisha Boe and Brandon Flynn, is pictured in a cutout photo of Justin kissing Jessica on the cheek.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Fans React After '13 Reasons Why' Shares a Photo of Jessica and Justin," 20 July 2017
The woman had bruises and swelling on her left cheek, eye, arm and wrist, bruises on both knees and a scratch on her neck.

— ruth ann krause, Post-Tribune, "Six years for Hammond man in robbery, theft," 18 July 2017
The beef and marrow pie is stuffed with beef cheeks, cipollini onions, and mushrooms.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Los Angeles Magazine Hot Restaurant List for July 2017," 18 July 2017
The occasional kiss on the cheek or hand-holding, nothing more.

— carolyn hax, The Seattle Times, "Being yourself after coming out to a conservative friend," 17 July 2017
Come 1953, this legal prodigy was named McCarthy’s boy-wonder chief counsel, and the news photos told the tale: the sharp-faced, heavy-lidded 26-year-old with cherubic cheeks, whispering intimately into the ear of the bloated McCarthy.

— marie brenner, The Hive, "How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn’s Ruthless Symbiosis Changed America," 4 July 2017
Eight days after the voucher meeting, Ebony induced labor and gave birth to Kamariya, a girl with bulging cheeks and a mess of black hair.

— alden woods, azcentral, "60 days to find a home: Lack of affordable housing forces renters to settle," 2 July 2017
And Thibodeau's other big move, a verbal commitment from former All-Star point guard Jeff Teague, makes the tongue-in-cheek references to Hinrich, Lucas and James superfluous.

— k.c. johnson, chicagotribune.com, "As Tom Thibodeau puts band back together, Bulls, Timberwolves go in different directions," 2 July 2017
With tongue in cheek Romeo compared Team NOLA to the champion Golden State Warriors.

— doug maccash, NOLA.com, "Essence Festival tips off with rap-centric celebrity basketball game," 30 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.

Origin and Etymology of cheek

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of 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

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

cheek

verb

Definition of cheek

chiefly British

transitive verb
: to speak rudely or impudently to

Recent Examples of cheek from the Web

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

First Known Use of cheek

1840

CHEEK Defined for English Language Learners

cheek

play

noun

Definition of cheek for English Language Learners

: 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

CHEEK Defined for Kids

cheek

play

noun \ˈchēk\

Definition of cheek for Students

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.

Medical Dictionary

cheek

noun \ˈchēk\

Medical Definition of cheek

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 1

cheek

transitive verb

Medical Definition of cheek

: 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