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
Laura McCusker3
: state of mind or heart : spirit
… be of good cheer …—Matthew 9:2 (King James Version)
Matthew 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
T. B. Macaulay6
: something that gladdens
words of cheer
7
a
archaic
: facial expression
b
obsolete
: face
cheered; cheering; cheers
1
: to utter a shout of applause or triumph
What is there to cheer about?
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
Nikki Taylor4
obsolete
: to be mentally or emotionally disposed
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
William Wordsworth2
: 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
Synonyms
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 WebJulyssa 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
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
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
Phrases Containing cheer
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.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
cheer
2 of 2 verb1
: 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
Nglish: Translation of cheer for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of cheer for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cheer
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