cheer

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a shout of applause or encouragement
The players were greeted with loud cheers.
b
US : the activity of organized cheerleading
With autumn approaching, evenings at Stringham Pitcher Park are again alive with the sounds of football and cheer.Laura McCusker
2
: lightness of mind and feeling : animation, gaiety
faces full of cheer
3
: state of mind or heart : spirit
… be of good cheerMatthew 9:2 (King James Version)
4
: hospitable entertainment : welcome
5
: food and drink for a feast : fare
… every table was loaded with good cheer.T. B. Macaulay
6
: something that gladdens
words of cheer
7
a
archaic : facial expression
b
obsolete : face

cheer

2 of 2

verb

cheered; cheering; cheers

intransitive verb

1
: to utter a shout of applause or triumph
What is there to cheer about?
2
: to grow or be cheerful : rejoice
usually used with up
Cheer up! Things could be worse.
3
US : to perform as a cheerleader
A gymnast from the age of 3, she switched to cheerleading in middle school. Rink cheered for three years for her middle school and became a cheerleader for Penn.Nikki Taylor
4
obsolete : to be mentally or emotionally disposed

transitive verb

1
a
: to make glad or happy
usually used with up
clowns who cheer up children in hospitals
b
: to instill with hope or courage : comfort
usually used with up
cheer desponding men with new-born hope.William Wordsworth
2
: to urge on or encourage especially by shouts
cheered the team on
3
: to applaud with shouts
The contest winner was cheered as she accepted the trophy.
cheerer noun

Example Sentences

Noun The audience let out a cheer. Loud cheers were coming from the bleachers. The star was greeted with cheers. Let's spread a little holiday cheer. The cheerleaders did a cheer for the home team. Verb The crowd cheered as he crossed the finish line. We were cheering for you all the way! The crowd cheered him as he crossed the finish line. Their fans cheered them to victory. Supporters cheered the court's decision. Investors were cheered by good economic news. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Their cheers become even louder once the varsity team lines up in their trajes, holding their instruments. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2023 Fouts relished the 100th win of her career at the bottom of a pile, cheers surrounding her while a team aide ripped open a box full of commemorative hats. Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 29 May 2023 Updated: May 24, 2023 2:04 p.m. Christmas came early in the Texas Legislature on Tuesday night, but nobody seems to be feeling the holiday cheer. Edward Mckinley, San Antonio Express-News, 24 May 2023 Scott Wedgewood came in for Oettinger and quickly made a glove save, sparking a big cheer from the fans at American Airlines Center who needed something positive. Joseph Hoyt, Dallas News, 24 May 2023 That’s a cheer students of Samuel F.B. Morse High School use to encourage their athletes. Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2023 In a live town hall on CNN on Wednesday, the cheers for every falsehood and insult that Trump uttered under tough questioning by a moderator showed there was little to no daylight between Trump and the Republican base. Trip Gabriel, BostonGlobe.com, 12 May 2023 All the Florida victims were students of Kristianson’s competitive cheer club in Daytona Beach. Julia Musto, Fox News, 11 May 2023 Watch a sneak peek of the new season below, teasing cheers, tears, and swaths of torn fabric. Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 9 May 2023
Verb
The backgrounds of levels are low poly, with NPCs clapping or cheering lifelessly during matches like they’re bound in a Westworld loop. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2023 Each time her name was read out through the concourse, the Tide faithful rose to their feet and cheered. Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 29 May 2023 Taylor’s wife of 37 years cheered him from the audience. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 26 May 2023 As Faith walked across the arena floor at her graduation, her parents cheered, alongside Ms. Rodriguez and the Rubio and Cazares families. Tamir Kalifa, New York Times, 24 May 2023 As the restriction ended on Thursday night, migrants at the border cheered before they were loaded onto vans and buses by border patrol agents to be processed in the U.S., NBC’s Daniella Silva reported from El Paso, Texas. Chuck Todd, NBC News, 12 May 2023 Gaga's friends and followers were quick to hop into the comments section to cheer her on. Emily Shiffer, Women's Health, 11 May 2023 Movies Jack Nicholson returns courtside to cheer beloved Lakers to playoff win April 29, 2023 A season ticketholder since 1970, Nicholson, 86, has witnessed some of the franchise’s largest moments, from the Showtime era to the Shaq-Kobe three-peat and Kobe Bryant‘s back-to-back rings. Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2023 The bride and groom were all smiles as their bridal party cheered them on in champagne dresses and green suits. Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 9 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cheer.' 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 and Verb

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7b

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of cheer was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near cheer

Cite this Entry

“Cheer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheer. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

cheer

1 of 2 noun
1
: state of mind or heart : spirit
be of good cheer
2
: good spirits
full of cheer
3
: something that gladdens
words of cheer
4
: a shout of praise or encouragement
three cheers for our side

cheer

2 of 2 verb
1
: to give hope to or make happier : comfort
cheer up a sick person
2
: to urge on especially with shouts or cheers
cheer the team to victory
3
: to shout with joy, approval, or enthusiasm
the audience cheered loudly
4
: to grow or be cheerful : rejoice
usually used with up
he cheered up at the news

More from Merriam-Webster on cheer

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