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

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And after a few cheers from the group, the bus finally pulls up to Delvey's apartment — and a whole crowd of people and flashing lights. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023 One big cheer from Giants’ fans: Giants fans booed the home team off the field as the first half ended and teams headed to the locker room. Kristi Scales, Dallas News, 11 Sep. 2023 Her pre-match TV interview, shown on the video screens in the arena, was drowned out by the sound of applause and cheers reverberating off the closed retractable roof. CBS News, 9 Sep. 2023 It’s packed with enough positivity to last a year, while the beautiful watercolor design will add some cheer to their cubicle. Kaitlyn McInnis, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023 Color Adding the colors of the season is an easy way to include Christmas cheer throughout your home. Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2023 Caleb Downs drew a big cheer from the Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd when he was announced as a starter for Alabama football. Matt Stahl | Mstahl@al.com, al, 4 Sep. 2023 Each time the applause started to die down, Korine waved his hands in the air like a conductor, and the cheers started up again. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 2 Sep. 2023 Her remarks drew cheers from her conservative constituents. Paul Kane, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2023
Verb
The Dow gained more than 330 points on Thursday, notching its best day since August as investors cheered the news. SoftBank, which acquired Arm for $32 billion in 2016, will hold on to about 90% of the company’s shares. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 14 Sep. 2023 As the armored vehicle carrying Cavalcante approached the police barracks in Avondale, some residents in the area lined the roadway cheering, pumping their fists in the air and applauding. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2023 When Rodgers went down in the first quarter of the game, the bar patrons cheered and began to run up their tabs, assuming the Bills would maintain their lead. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023 The rain didn’t stop the barking and cheering from fans who gleefully witnessed a Browns’ home opener win, the first since 2004. Joshua Gunter, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2023 Thousands now add comments and send messages cheering him on. Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023 After returning from Williamsport on Aug. 28, the team was cheered by a caravan on Main Street that attracted hundreds of people. Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2023 When hundreds of people poured into the streets, cheering and chanting, Mr. Mickala waited a little longer before trusting the crowds. Sira Thierij, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2023 Cheerleaders handed them flowers and the crowd cheered as their names were announced. Alaina Bookman | Abookman@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 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 21 Sep. 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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