cheer
cheer
Cheer (noun) means a shout of approval, encouragement, or celebration. Example: “A cheer went up from the back of the hall when the results were read out.”
noun
1
A shout of approval, encouragement, or celebration.
"A cheer went up from the back of the hall when the results were read out."
"The crowd let out a huge cheer when the home team scored."
"She gave a little cheer when she opened the acceptance letter."
2
A feeling of happiness or good spirits.
"The carol singers spread festive cheer through the whole street."
"There was little cheer in the waiting room that grey morning."
"His visit brought some cheer to an otherwise gloomy week."
verb
1
To shout in support or approval of someone.
"We cheered loudly from the sidelines while our daughter ran her race."
"The audience cheered and clapped when the singer walked on stage."
"Thousands of fans cheered as the runners crossed the finish line."
2
To make someone happier, often with "up".
"A bunch of flowers always cheers me up when I'm feeling low."
"He tried to cheer his sister up with a silly joke."
"A funny video cheered her up after a bad day."
How to use cheer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a shout of support, or a general sense of happiness — and as a verb, to encourage loudly or lift someone's mood.
Common pairings
cheer someone up
cheer for the team
words of cheer
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Word forms
- Plural
- cheers
- Third person singular
- cheers
- Past tense
- cheered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ went up from the back of the hall when the results were read out.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cheer
See all rhymes for 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.
