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
Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
The people alongside the road are all cheering for us.
—The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
His not-guilty verdict—announced on October 3, 1995, another seminal date in 1990s history—was cheered by many Black Americans, and derided by white ones.
—Sean Gregory, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
When the Grammy winner finished, the lights flashed rainbow colors, and the crowd cheered loudly.
—Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
But the measures have cheered labor unions, environmental groups and other key members of Mr. Biden’s political support base, particularly in the swing states of the industrial Midwest.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
The hundreds on Luna Pier beach cheered as the darkness reached its peak, and the total eclipse could be viewed in the sky with the naked eye, the sun's glowing, dancing corona edge visible around a jet-black circle.
—Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
Michelle was whooping it up at her station, having a blast and encouraging the guests to cheer and get loud for the festival ahead.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
This week, Sinha was again cheering the Modi government.
—Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 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
Gun violence prevention groups cheered the action this week.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
The people alongside the road are all cheering for us.
—The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
His not-guilty verdict—announced on October 3, 1995, another seminal date in 1990s history—was cheered by many Black Americans, and derided by white ones.
—Sean Gregory, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
When the Grammy winner finished, the lights flashed rainbow colors, and the crowd cheered loudly.
—Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
But the measures have cheered labor unions, environmental groups and other key members of Mr. Biden’s political support base, particularly in the swing states of the industrial Midwest.
—Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
The hundreds on Luna Pier beach cheered as the darkness reached its peak, and the total eclipse could be viewed in the sky with the naked eye, the sun's glowing, dancing corona edge visible around a jet-black circle.
—Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
Michelle was whooping it up at her station, having a blast and encouraging the guests to cheer and get loud for the festival ahead.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
This week, Sinha was again cheering the Modi government.
—Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 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 25 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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