noun A2 Elementary Common

cheek

Cheek (noun) means the soft, fleshy part on either side of the face, below the eye. Example: “She kissed him on the cheek.”

noun

The soft, fleshy part on either side of the face, below the eye.

"She kissed him on the cheek."

"His cheeks turned red from the cold."

Bold or disrespectful speech; impudence, especially in a way that's more cheeky than offensive.

"He had the cheek to ask for a raise after being late all week."

verb

To speak to someone in a bold, disrespectful way.

"Don't cheek me, young man."

How to use cheek

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe side of your face — or, informally, a bit of nerve or sass in how someone talks.

When to use it

"Cheek" meaning impudence is mainly British/Commonwealth usage.

Common pairings

have the cheek to turn the other cheek rosy cheeks

Word forms

cheeked past tense, cheeks plural, cheeks singular

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She kissed him on the _____.

Etymology

From Old English ceace/ceoce, meaning "cheek" or "jaw", related to Dutch kaak and German Kiefer-type words for jaw.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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nerve audacity impudence gall effrontery sauce

Related words

face heart steel balls anger courage Stones sauce

Rhymes for cheek

eek week seek meek leek geek peek reek Zeek Greek creek sleek

See all rhymes for cheek →

Frequently asked questions

What does “cheek” mean?

The word “cheek” means the soft, fleshy part on either side of the face, below the eye. In plain terms, the side of your face — or, informally, a bit of nerve or sass in how someone talks.

How do you pronounce “cheek”?

“Cheek” is pronounced cheek (/t͡ʃiːk/ in IPA).

How do you use “cheek” in a sentence?

Here is “cheek” used in a sentence: “She kissed him on the cheek.”

What part of speech is “cheek”?

Depending on how it is used, “cheek” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “cheek” come from?

The word “cheek” comes from Old English. From Old English ceace/ceoce, meaning "cheek" or "jaw", related to Dutch kaak and German Kiefer-type words for jaw.

Is “cheek” a common word?

“Cheek” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “cheek” have?

“Cheek” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the soft, fleshy part on either side of the face, below the eye.

Is "cheek" meaning rudeness formal or informal?

In the sense of bold or disrespectful speech, "cheek" is informal and chiefly British. It suggests impudence that is more cheeky or nervy than seriously offensive, as in "that's enough of your cheek."

What is the difference between "cheek" and "nerve"?

Both can describe bold or brazen behaviour, but "cheek" leans towards playful impudence, while "nerve" often suggests a more shocking boldness. Saying someone "has a nerve" tends to sound stronger than saying they "have a cheek."

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