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

: 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

cheekful

ˈchēk-ˌfu̇l 

noun

see also:

turn the other cheek

cheek

2 of 2

verb

cheeked; cheeking; cheeks

transitive verb

chiefly British

: to speak rudely or impudently to

Synonyms of cheek

Noun

• mouth
• disrespect
• sass
• impudence
• insolence
• back talk
• sauce

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 clip, filmed at her 36th birthday party, Madix careens through a bar and lands directly onto her left cheek without attempting to break her fall; her hand is busy holding up her cocktail, which stays miraculously intact. — Anna Peele, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026

Rose Gray played her All Points East festival set with super-sparkled cheeks, while Lady Gaga tested out the season’s trending clavi-cut. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026

Done with a cheek swab, blood draw or saliva sample, this testing mainly looks at liver enzymes that affect how the body metabolizes medicines. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Lips and cheeks have been hogging all the attention recently, while lids and lashes have been going nearly naked. — Elle Turner, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026

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

Phrases Containing cheek

• cheek by jowl
• cheek to cheek
• cheek tooth
• tongue in cheek
• turn the other cheek
• with (one's) tongue in (one's) cheek

Rhymes for cheek

• beak
• beek
• bleak
• chic
• clique
• creak
• creek
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek
• leak

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

: buttock sense 1

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