cheer Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a cry or shout of approval
  2. noun the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom
    sunshine; cheerfulness; sunniness.
    • flowers added a note of cheerfulness to the drab room
  3. verb give encouragement to
    embolden; recreate; hearten.
  4. verb show approval or good wishes by shouting
    • everybody cheered the birthday boy
  5. verb cause (somebody) to feel happier or more cheerful
    cheer up; jolly along; jolly up.
    • She tried to cheer up the disappointed child when he failed to win the spelling bee
  6. verb become cheerful
    cheer up; chirk up.
  7. verb spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
    urge; inspire; exhort; barrack; urge on; root on; pep up.
    • The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers

WordNet

Cheer noun
Etymology
OE. chere face, welcome, cheer, OF. chiere, F. chère, fr. LL. cara face, Gr. head; akin to Skr. iras, L. cerebrum brain, G. hirn, and E. cranium.
Definitions
  1. The face; the countenance or its expression. Obs. "Sweat of thy cheer." Wyclif.
  2. Feeling; spirit; state of mind or heart.
    Be of good cheer. Matt. ix. 2.
    The parents . . . fled away with heavy cheer. Holland.
  3. Gayety; mirth; cheerfulness; animation.
    I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have. Shak.
  4. That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness; provisions prepared for a feast; entertainment; as, a table loaded with good cheer.
  5. A shout, hurrah, or acclamation, expressing joy enthusiasm, applause, favor, etc.
    Welcome her, thundering cheer of the street. Tennyson.
Cheer transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Cheered ; present participle & verbal noun cheering
Definitions
  1. To cause to rejoice; to gladden; to make cheerful; -- often with up. Cowpe.
  2. To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort.
    The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered. Dryden.
  3. To salute or applaud with cheers; to urge on by cheers; as, to cheer hounds in a chase. Syn. -- To gladden; encourage; inspirit; comfort; console; enliven; refresh; exhilarate; animate; applaud.
Cheer intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To grow cheerful; to become gladsome or joyous; -- usually with up.
    At sight of thee my gloomy soul cheers up. A. Philips.
  2. To be in any state or temper of mind. Obs.
    How cheer'st thou, Jessica? Shak.
  3. To utter a shout or shouts of applause, triumph, etc.
    And even the ranks of Tusculum Could scare forbear to cheer. Macaulay.

Webster 1913