cherish

verb cher·ish \ ˈcher-ish , ˈche-rish \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of cherish

transitive verb

1 a : to hold dear : feel or show affection for

cherished her friends

b : to keep or cultivate with care and affection : nurture

cherishes his marriage

2 : to entertain or harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely

still cherishes that memory

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cherishable

play \-i-shə-bəl\ adjective

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cherisher

play \-i-shər\ noun

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Examples of cherish in a Sentence

a book cherished by many
I will always cherish that memory.

Recent Examples of cherish from the Web

Selection of some — such as the cassowaries, large flightless birds, cherished by the original inhabitants of New Britain (part of New Guinea), and the pigeons kept as pets in Samoa — seems to have been more arbitrary.

— Longreads, "The Way We Treat Our Pets Is More Paleolithic Than Medieval," 22 Mar. 2018
Putin’s electoral power has centered on stability, a quality cherished by Russians after the chaotic breakup of the Soviet Union.

— BostonGlobe.com, "In Russian election, Putin wins massive mandate for nationalist policies," 19 Mar. 2018
To restore leadership that is aware of and cherishes our constitutional framework, which by design is meant to force compromise.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "Jeff Flake Called Out the Foundational Flaws of His Party, and Its Unstable Leader," 16 Mar. 2018
The mountains are sacred to the local indigenous people, and cherished by all Colombians, but have been off-limits for decades, known only from photographs due to the dangerous FARC presence there.

— james f. mccarty, cleveland.com, "Colombia offers unspoiled beauty for tourists after being unreachable for decades (photos)," 13 Feb. 2018
It was built for a tycoon, owned by the Episcopal and Catholic churches and cherished by an advertising genius.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "Price drops on Portland mansion once owned by armored car pioneer (photos)," 5 Feb. 2018
He was loved and admired by so many and cherished his many long-time friendships within this parish family.

— orlando sentinel, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Deaths in Central Florida: 3/18," 18 Mar. 2018
The big picture is a tale of what can happen when law enforcement is politicized, public servants are attacked, and people who are supposed to cherish and protect our institutions become instruments for damaging those institutions and people.

— matthew yglesias, Vox, "Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe’s fiery statement about Sessions’s decision to fire him," 17 Mar. 2018
Their religion is to cherish their family, children, and the elderly.

— jane larkworthy, The Cut, "This French Hair Wizard Wants You to Have a Healthy Scalp," 14 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cherish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cherish

Middle English cherisshen, from Anglo-French cheriss-, stem of cherir to cherish, from cher dear, from Latin carus — more at charity

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

cherish Synonyms

Phrases

set store by (or set store on);

Synonym Discussion of cherish

appreciate, value, prize, treasure, cherish mean to hold in high estimation. appreciate often connotes sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing's excellence.