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
Examples of cheer in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the WebJenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
But the loudest cheers of the evening came from Sporting KC fans after Thommy’s goals.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2024
Around him, cheers from others watching the eclipse in Indianapolis could be heard.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
The Ukrainians in the basement derived obvious satisfaction from the Russian casualties, some of which elicited rapturous cheers.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
As the moon crossed in front of the sun, the midday light turned to dusk and the crowd erupted in whoops and cheers.
—Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2024
But do feel free to sing rousing songs during assemblies, complete with choreographed movements that don’t suggests future presidential or gubernatorial candidates so much as freshman-year cheer squads.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
Like her offspring, Cari was a standout student-athlete at Bellevue East High School in Nebraska, earning letters in gymnastics and diving while also on the cheer squad.
—Jim Lindgren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
The last time North Texas had front row seats to the phenomenon was in 1878 when shouts and cheers erupted as the moon’s shadow passed over the midday sun.
—David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2024
Oona A. Hathaway, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
On Sunday, Swenson was among two dozen climate advocates who gathered outside Walt Disney Studios in Burbank to cheer the company’s action — and celebrate their own achievement.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
Celebrating the Anniversary of The Emancipation of Mimi Carey then returned the favor, taking the brush and pretending to use it on their faces as the crowd cheered.
—Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024
Swift fans cheered the rare glimpse of the celebrity couple’s home life.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2024
The Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings keep sports fans engaged and cheering at Comerica Park, Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena, all downtown and all worth a visit whether or not a game is scheduled.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
The news promptly dominated the sports and pop culture zeitgeists, culminating with Swift cheering Kelce and his team on to their ultimate Super Bowl victory.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 19 Apr. 2024
Biden’s announcement on steel tariffs was cheered by U.S. steelmakers.
—Will Weissert, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2024
People that were watching in the street clapped and cheered for the man’s rescue.
—USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
Noun
The crowd erupted in cheers as Duggan announced the start of NFL draft week, tossing a football to mark the official commencement.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
But the loudest cheers of the evening came from Sporting KC fans after Thommy’s goals.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2024
Around him, cheers from others watching the eclipse in Indianapolis could be heard.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
The Ukrainians in the basement derived obvious satisfaction from the Russian casualties, some of which elicited rapturous cheers.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
As the moon crossed in front of the sun, the midday light turned to dusk and the crowd erupted in whoops and cheers.
—Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2024
But do feel free to sing rousing songs during assemblies, complete with choreographed movements that don’t suggests future presidential or gubernatorial candidates so much as freshman-year cheer squads.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
Like her offspring, Cari was a standout student-athlete at Bellevue East High School in Nebraska, earning letters in gymnastics and diving while also on the cheer squad.
—Jim Lindgren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
The last time North Texas had front row seats to the phenomenon was in 1878 when shouts and cheers erupted as the moon’s shadow passed over the midday sun.
—David Montesino, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2024
Verb
Indeed, members of the U.S. Congress have cheered the ICC’s exercise of jurisdiction over Russia for crimes committed during the war in Ukraine and passed a law allowing the United States to share evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine with its prosecutor.
—Oona A. Hathaway, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
On Sunday, Swenson was among two dozen climate advocates who gathered outside Walt Disney Studios in Burbank to cheer the company’s action — and celebrate their own achievement.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
Celebrating the Anniversary of The Emancipation of Mimi Carey then returned the favor, taking the brush and pretending to use it on their faces as the crowd cheered.
—Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024
Swift fans cheered the rare glimpse of the celebrity couple’s home life.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2024
The Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings keep sports fans engaged and cheering at Comerica Park, Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena, all downtown and all worth a visit whether or not a game is scheduled.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
The news promptly dominated the sports and pop culture zeitgeists, culminating with Swift cheering Kelce and his team on to their ultimate Super Bowl victory.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 19 Apr. 2024
Biden’s announcement on steel tariffs was cheered by U.S. steelmakers.
—Will Weissert, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2024
People that were watching in the street clapped and cheered for the man’s rescue.
—USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near cheer
Cite this Entry
“Cheer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheer. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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