cherish

verb

cher·​ish ˈcher-ish 

ˈche-rish

cherished; cherishing; cherishes

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

cherishable

ˈcher-i-shə-bəl 

ˈche-ri-

adjective

cherisher

ˈcher-i-shər 

ˈche-ri-

noun

Synonyms of cherish

• love
• adore

Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

appreciates fine wine

value implies rating a thing highly for its intrinsic worth.

values our friendship

prize implies taking a deep pride in something one possesses.

Americans prize their freedom

treasure emphasizes jealously safeguarding something considered precious.

a treasured memento

cherish implies a special love and care for something.

cherishes her children above all

Examples of cherish in a Sentence

a book cherished by many

I will always cherish that memory.

Recent Examples on the Web

These unobstructed views provide a backdrop for the living room, kitchen and primary suite in a home that has been cherished by the Clark family for many years, according to public records and news archives. —Sandra Barrera, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026

This could be a bad deal for America’s aspiring homebuyers and for folks shut out of home ownership for now who cherish the prospect of living in a house, even as a rental. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026

Barose, who has been creating makeup looks for Madigan for the last few months, cherishes their time together. —Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026

But as millions of sun-hungry travelers pack their bags for Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum this winter, remember there are still pockets of secluded paradise to be found and cherished along Mexico’s Caribbean coastline. —Gemma Price, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for cherish

• bearish
• farish
• garish
• perish
• squarish
• nightmarish

Kids Definition

cherish

verb

cher·​ish ˈcher-ish 

1

: to hold dear : feel or show affection for

cherished her friends

2

: to keep with care and affection : nurture

cherishes her friendship

3

: to harbor in the mind

cherish a hope