verb
cherish
CHEH-rihsh
verb
1
To care for someone or something deeply and protect it tenderly.
"She cherished the old photographs of her grandparents."
"He cherishes every moment he gets to spend with his kids."
2
To hold an idea, memory, or hope dear.
"They cherish the hope that things will improve next year."
How to Use Cherish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo value something so much that you look after it carefully and hold onto it emotionally.
Common mistake
Cherish takes a direct object — you cherish something, not "cherish for" something.
Common pairings
cherish a memory
cherish the moment
cherished possession
Word Forms
cherished past tense, cherishes singular
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She _____ the old photographs of her grandparents.
Etymology
From Old French cherir, "to hold dear," built on cher, "dear" — ultimately from Latin carus, "beloved." The same root gives English "charity" (in its older sense of loving regard).