cherish

3 synonyms and 4 antonyms for cherish, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To care for someone or something deeply and protect it tenderly.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

treasure

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

care for hold dear

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To care for someone or something deeply and protect it tenderly.

“She cherished the old photographs of her grandparents.”

treasure care for hold dear

Opposites

take for granted despise abandon

2. verb

To hold an idea, memory, or hope dear.

“They cherish the hope that things will improve next year.”

Opposites

abjure

How to use cherish

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

cherish a memory cherish the moment cherished possession

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).

Full origin of cherish →

Frequently asked questions

What does “cherish” mean?

The word “cherish” means to care for someone or something deeply and protect it tenderly. In plain terms, to value something so much that you look after it carefully and hold onto it emotionally.

How do you pronounce “cherish”?

“Cherish” is pronounced CHEH-rihsh (/ˈt͡ʃɛɹɪʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “cherish” in a sentence?

Here is “cherish” used in a sentence: “She cherished the old photographs of her grandparents.”

What part of speech is “cherish”?

“Cherish” is a verb.

Where does the word “cherish” come from?

The word “cherish” comes from Latin. 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).

Is “cherish” a common word?

“Cherish” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “cherish” have?

“Cherish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to care for someone or something deeply and protect it tenderly.

Related words

caress

People also searched

treasure abandon despise take for granted abjure

Nearby words

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