cherish

verb

cher·​ish ˈcher-ish How to pronounce cherish (audio)
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 adjective
cherisher
ˈcher-i-shər How to pronounce cherish (audio)
ˈche-ri-
noun
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 The mirror comes in dozens of different colors and styles and is something your bridal party will cherish forever. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024 Many schools were initially hesitant to take strong steps limiting freedom of expression cherished on their campuses. Sharon Otterman, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024 Residents at Crestwood Village cherish peaceful walks along the trail and sidewalks, and conversations with neighbors. Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2024 Each 50-gram bar is made with real chocolate and contains the company’s proprietary blend that mixes different mushrooms cherished for their potential health benefits. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024 Artifact Uprising Hardcover Photo Book $59 A thoughtful way to organize all your special snapshots in one spot, a photo book is sure to be cherished and prominently displayed in the grandparents' home. Maya Polton, Parents, 11 Apr. 2024 The attacks on Glazer also have a silencing effect on our industry, contributing to a broader climate of suppression of free speech and dissent, the very qualities our field should cherish. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024 Born in London in 1934, Goodall grew up cherishing animals, even, as a not-yet-2-year-old, taking earthworms to bed with her. Ralph Blumenthal, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024 Fans cherish the film as one of the silver screen's greatest romance, many pointing to a scene where Allie and Noah embrace in a kiss on the rain. Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cherish.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cherish was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cherish

Cite this Entry

“Cherish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cherish. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

cherish

verb
cher·​ish ˈcher-ish How to pronounce cherish (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on cherish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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