English Explanatory Dictionary

cheer

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A cheerful attitude; happiness; a good, happy, or positive mood.
  2. That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness, especially food and entertainment prepared for a festive occasion.
  3. A cry expressing joy, approval or support, such as "hurrah".
  4. A chant made in support of a team at a sports event.
  5. One's facial expression or countenance.
  6. One's attitude, mood.
verb
  1. To gladden; to make cheerful; often with up.
  2. To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort.
  3. To encourage to do something.
  4. To applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts.
  5. To feel or express enthusiasm for (something).
noun
  1. Cheerleading, especially when practiced as a competitive sport.
noun
  1. Pronunciation spelling of chair.

Pronunciation

/t͡ʃɪə̯/ /t͡ʃɪɹ/ en-us-cheer.ogg /t͡ʃiə/ /t͡ʃiːɹ/ /t͡ʃɛː/

Word forms

cheer cheers cheering cheered

Etymology

From Middle English chere, from Anglo-Norman chere, from Old French chiere (“head, face; appearance; reception, hospitality; meal, dinner, food”) (Modern French chère), from Late Latin cara (“head”).

Synonyms

applause plaudit clap clapping acclaim acclamation laudits acclamate applaud hail barrack beclap cheer cheer on encheer hurrah hurray huzzah cheer up upcheer beatify enrapture begladden blissen bright fetch cherish content delight elate elevate enbliss exhilarate fain gay gladden gladden someone's heart gratify happify happy hearten jollify laetificate light up make someone's day perk up please raise someone's spirits rejoice turn the frown upside down warm someone's heart warm the cockles of someone's heart comfort solace besoothe console soothe animate arouse awaken

Antonyms

boo heckle jeer at sneer jeer gird jibe laugh at scoff scorn

Related words

cheer pheasant

Derived words

bellycheer Bronx cheer cheerful cheerish cheerleader cheerless cheerly cheermaster cheersome Christmas cheer countercheer cup that cheers encheer good cheer three cheers what cheer wotcher cheerable cheerer cheer-off cheer on cheers cheer ship cheer to the echo cheer up cheery outcheer upcheer cheer squad
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