cheer
18 synonyms and 3 antonyms for cheer, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A shout of approval, encouragement, or celebration.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use cheer
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French chiere, meaning "face" or "expression", which came to mean a person's mood and later shifted to mean encouragement and good spirits.
Full origin of cheer →Frequently asked questions
What does “cheer” mean?
The word “cheer” means a shout of approval, encouragement, or celebration. In plain terms, either a shout of support, or a general sense of happiness — and as a verb, to encourage loudly or lift someone's mood.
How do you pronounce “cheer”?
“Cheer” is pronounced cheer (/t͡ʃɪɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cheer” in a sentence?
Here is “cheer” used in a sentence: “The crowd let out a huge cheer when the home team scored.”
What is another word for “cheer”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cheer” include acclaim, acclamate, applaud, hail, barrack and beclap.
What is the opposite of “cheer”?
The opposite of “cheer” — its antonyms — are heckle, jeer at and sneer.
What part of speech is “cheer”?
Depending on how it is used, “cheer” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cheer” come from?
The word “cheer” comes from Old French. From Old French chiere, meaning "face" or "expression", which came to mean a person's mood and later shifted to mean encouragement and good spirits.
Is “cheer” a common word?
“Cheer” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between "cheer someone on" and "cheer someone up"?
To cheer someone on is to shout in support or approval, such as encouraging a runner during a race. To cheer someone up is to make them happier when they are feeling low. The first is about vocal encouragement; the second is about lifting someone's mood.
What is the difference between cheer and applaud?
To applaud is to show approval by clapping, while to cheer is to show approval by shouting. In practice the two often happen together, and both can be used figuratively for praising a decision or achievement. Cheering is generally the louder, more exuberant of the two.