cheer
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /t͡ʃɪə̯/
ipa: /t͡ʃɪɹ/
ipa: /t͡ʃiə/
ipa: /t͡ʃiːɹ/
note: East Anglia, cheer–chair merger
ipa: /t͡ʃɛː/
rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)
homophone: chair (cheer–chair merger)
homophone: chare (cheer–chair merger)
Forms: form: cheers
form: cheering
form: cheered
form: cheered
Etymology: From Middle English chere, from Anglo-Norman chere, from Old French chiere (“head, face; appearance; reception, hospitality; meal, dinner, food”) (Modern French chère), from Late Latin cara (“head”).
Senses: examples: text: We were cheered by the offer of a cup of tea.
text: ⁠How often shall her old fireside
⁠Be cheer’d with tidings of the bride,
How often she herself return, […]
ref: 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXIX”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 61:
synonyms: word: cheer up
word: upcheer
word: beatify
word: begladden
word: blissen
word: bright
word: cheer
word: cheer up
word: content
word: delight
word: elate
word: enbliss
word: exhilarate
word: fain
word: gay
word: gladden
word: gladden someone's heart
word: gratify
word: happify
word: happy
word: hearten
word: jollify
word: laetificate
word: light up
word: make someone's day
word: perk up
word: please
word: raise someone's spirits
word: rejoice
word: turn the frown upside down
word: upcheer
word: warm someone's heart
word: warm the cockles of someone's heart
glosses: To gladden; to make cheerful; often with up.
examples: text: The proud he tam'd, the penitent he cheer'd.
ref: 1700, [John] Dryden, “The Character of a Good Parson; Imitated from Chaucer, and Inlarg’d”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
synonyms: word: comfort
word: solace
word: besoothe
word: cheer
word: comfort
word: console
word: solace
word: soothe
word: animate
word: arouse
word: awaken
word: beghast
word: leaven
word: bright
word: brighten
word: cheer
word: energize
word: enliven
word: enthuse
word: exalt
word: excite
word: fire up
word: ginger
word: ginger up
word: inflame
word: invigorate
word: inspire
word: inspirit
word: jazz
word: kindle
word: liven
word: liven up
word: perk up
word: quicken
word: spice
word: spice up
word: stimulate
word: vitalise
glosses: To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort.
examples: text: Let’s cheere our ſouldiers to incounter him, […]
And burne him in the fury of that flame,
That none can quench but blood and Empery.
ref: c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene vi:
synonyms: word: goad
word: stir up
word: abet
word: actuate
word: goose
word: send
word: sting
word: bring about
word: cheer
word: drive
word: encourage
word: egg on
word: engender
word: evoke
word: excite
word: foment
word: goad
word: grill
word: ignite
word: impel
word: incite
word: induce
word: inflame
word: instigate
word: invoke
word: lash
word: motive
word: motivate
word: move
word: obligate
word: oblige
word: push
word: promote
word: prompt
word: provoke
word: rouse
word: set off
word: spark off
word: spur
word: spur on
word: stimulate
word: stir
word: stir up
word: stoke
word: tempt
word: urge
word: whet
word: whip up
glosses: To encourage to do something.
examples: text: The crowd cheered in support of the athletes.
text: The crowd cheered the athletes.
synonyms: beclap
cheer on
encheer
hurrah
hurray
huzzah
antonyms: boo
glosses: To applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts.
examples: text: The finance sector will cheer this decision.
synonyms: hail
salute
glosses: To feel or express enthusiasm for (something).
Derived terms: cheerable
cheerer
cheer-off
cheer on
cheers
cheer ship
cheer to the echo
cheer up
cheery
outcheer
upcheer