Cheer — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈchir/

Meaning & Definition of Cheer

Cheer (noun)

  1. a shout of applause or encouragement
  2. the activity of organized cheerleading
  3. lightness of mind and feeling, animation, gaiety

Cheer (verb)

  1. to utter a shout of applause or triumph
  2. to grow or be cheerful, rejoice —usually used with up
  3. to perform as a cheerleader

Cheer (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to declare enthusiastic approval of

    "critics and fans alike have cheered the latest addition to the author's series of fantasy novels"

    similar: acclaim, accredit, applaud, crack up, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout, doff one's hat to
    related: bravo, clap, rise (to), ballyhoo, approve, commend, endorse, favor, recommend, root (for), support, celebrate, emblazon, eulogize, extol, glorify, magnify, sing, adulate, belaud, flatter, overpraise, deify, idolize
    opposite: knock, pan, slam
    near: belittle, discommend, disparage, put down, blame, censure, reprehend, reprobate, admonish, chide, criticize, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, castigate, excoriate, keelhaul, lambaste, skewer, slag (chiefly British), vilify

  2. to ease the grief or distress of

    "let's hope that these flowers will cheer my ailing aunt at least a little"

    similar: assure, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe
    related: commiserate, condole, empathize, sympathize, boost, buoy (up), elevate, lift, uplift, allay, alleviate, assuage, relieve, calm, quiet, relax, tranquilize
    opposite: distress, torment, torture, trouble
    near: demoralize, discourage, dishearten, fret, upset, worry, aggravate, intensify, worsen, annoy, irk, irritate, harass, pester

Cheer (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter

    "a birthday celebration filled with affection and cheer"

    similar: cheerfulness, cheeriness, festivity, gaiety, gayness, glee, gleefulness, hilarity, jocundity, joviality, merriment, merriness, mirth, mirthfulness
    related: frivolity, levity, jollification, jollity, reveling, revelry, brightness, buoyancy, good-humoredness, good-naturedness, humor, sunniness, gamesomeness, insouciance, lightheartedness, playfulness, sportiveness, buffoonery, clownishness, flippancy, funning, jest, jesting, jocoseness, jocosity, jocularity, joking, joshing, animation, giddiness, jauntiness, liveliness, perkiness, vivacity, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilance, rejoicing, frolicking, gamboling, rollicking, romping
    near: blues, dejection, depression, despondence, forlornness, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness, bile, gloom, melancholy, sourness, spleen, earnestness, graveness, gravity, grimness, seriousness, soberness, sobersidedness, solemnity, solemnness, discontent, disgruntlement, moodiness, dolefulness, dolorousness, joylessness, mournfulness, plaintiveness, woe, woefulness, blackness, darkness, gloominess, glumness, desolateness, desolation, heartbreak, miserableness, misery, mourning, wretchedness

  2. a feeling of ease from grief or trouble

    "the visiting general had some words of cheer for each of the hospital's recuperating soldiers"

    similar: comfort, consolation, relief, solace
    related: encouragement, inspiration, uplift, assurance, reassurance, alleviation, assuagement, mitigation, contentment, gladness, happiness, commiseration, empathy, sympathy, aid, assistance, help, succor
    near: anguish, distress, heartache, heartbreak, torment, torture

  3. a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion

    "be of good cheer in this Christmas season"

    similar: feather, humor, mode, mood, spirit, temper, frame of mind
    related: angle, attitude, mind-set, outlook, perspective, slant, standpoint, viewpoint, emotion, feeling, heart, passion, sentiment, strain, belief, conviction, judgment, mind, opinion, expression, tone, vein, character, disposition, identity, individuality, makeup, mettle, personality, selfhood, self-identity, temperament, responsiveness, sensibility, sensitiveness, sensitivity

  4. enthusiastic and usually public expression of approval

    "all three movies in the series received cheers from fans of the novels"

    similar: acclamation, applause, cheering, ovation, plaudit(s), rave(s), réclame
    related: clapping, bravo, hail, hallelujah, hurrah, hosanna, huzzah, acclaim, accolade, citation, commendation, compliment, encomium, eulogy, homage, kudo, paean, panegyric, salutation, tribute, kudos, praise
    opposite: booing, hissing
    near: boo, hiss, hoot, jeer, raspberry, smirk, sneer, snicker, snigger, snort, whistle, gibe, put-down, taunt

Related Entry: Cheer (up) (verb)

Cheer (up) is a different word from Cheer. The synonyms below are for cheer (up), not for cheer.

  1. to become glad or hopeful

    "cheer up—things are bound to get better"

    similar: brighten, buck up, lighten, look up, perk (up)
    related: rejoice, liven (up), revive, beam, glow, radiate, sparkle, encourage, gladden, hearten
    opposite: darken, sadden
    near: despair, despond, brood, fret, mope

  2. to fill with courage or strength of purpose

    "the general's speech cheered up the troops tremendously"

    similar: bear up, buck up, buoy (up), chirk (up), embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, inspirit, steel
    related: animate, enliven, invigorate, enforce, fortify, reinforce, strengthen, assure, reassure, boost, energize, excite, galvanize, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir
    opposite: daunt, discourage, dishearten, dispirit
    near: demoralize, depress, sadden, debilitate, enfeeble, hamstring, undermine, weaken, intimidate, psych (out)

Related Entry: Bronx cheer (noun)

Bronx cheer is a different word from Cheer. The synonyms below are for Bronx cheer, not for cheer.

  1. a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval

    "a baseball legend who seems never to have forgotten the Bronx cheer he once received from the hometown ingrates"

    similar: bird (chiefly British), boo, catcall, hiss, hoot, jeer, raspberry, razz, snort
    related: smirk, sneer, snicker, snigger, gibe, put-down, taunt, whistle
    opposite: cheer
    near: applause, clapping

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cheer

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cheer:

acclaim, accredit, applaud, crack up, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout, assure, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe, doff one's hat to, cheerfulness, cheeriness, festivity, gaiety, gayness, glee, gleefulness, hilarity, jocundity, joviality, merriment, merriness, mirth, mirthfulness, consolation, relief, feather, humor, mode, mood, spirit, temper, acclamation, applause

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cheer

Words with the opposite meaning of Cheer:

knock, pan, slam, distress, torment, torture, trouble, booing, hissing

Related Words for Cheer

bravo, clap, rise (to), ballyhoo, approve, commend, endorse, favor, recommend, root (for), support, celebrate, emblazon, eulogize, extol, glorify, magnify, sing, adulate, belaud, flatter, overpraise, deify, idolize, commiserate, condole, empathize, sympathize, boost, buoy (up)

Near Antonyms of Cheer

belittle, discommend, disparage, put down, blame, censure, reprehend, reprobate, admonish, chide, criticize, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, castigate, excoriate, keelhaul, lambaste, skewer, slag, vilify, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, fret, upset, worry, aggravate, intensify

Word Forms of Cheer

Inflections: cheered, cheering, cheers

Derived words: cheerer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Cheer

Middle English chere face, cheer, from Anglo-French, face, from Medieval Latin cara, probably from Greek kara head, face cerebral

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cheer

Words & Phrases Containing Cheer

cheer on, cheer up, Bronx cheer, be of good cheer

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheer

What does "Cheer" mean?

"Cheer" means a shout of applause or encouragement. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a shout of applause or encouragement. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cheer"?

Other words for "Cheer" include acclaim, accredit, applaud, crack up, hail, laud, praise and salute. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cheer" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cheer"?

There are 199 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cheer". Common alternatives include acclaim, accredit, applaud, crack up, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout and assure.

What is the opposite of "Cheer"?

Antonyms of "Cheer" include knock, pan, slam, distress, torment, torture, trouble and booing. Near antonyms include belittle, discommend, disparage and put down.

How do you use "Cheer" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cheer" in a sentence: "critics and fans alike have cheered the latest addition to the author's series of fantasy novels"; "let's hope that these flowers will cheer my ailing aunt at least a little"; "a birthday celebration filled with affection and cheer".

Is "Cheer" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cheer" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Cheer" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Cheer" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Cheer"?

"Cheer" is pronounced /ˈchir/.