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”).
Meanings
(uncountable) A cheerful attitude; happiness; a good, happy, or positive mood.
I have not that alacrity of spirit, / Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
(uncountable) That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness, especially food and entertainment prepared for a festive occasion.
a table loaded with good cheer
"And am I to meet my Mary at Moffat? Come away, little, dear, welcome body, thou blessed of heaven, come away, and taste of an auld shepherd's best cheer, and I'll gang foot for foot with you to Moffat, and my auld wife shall gang foot for foot with us too. I tell you, little, blessed, and welcome crile, come along with me." 1828, James Hogg, Mary Burnet:
“[…]the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes like
Here's rattling good luck and roaring good cheer, / With lashings of food and great hogsheads of beer.[…].” 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
(countable) A cry expressing joy, approval or support, such as "hurrah".
A cheer rose from the crowd.
Three cheers for the birthday boy!
Welcome her, thunders of fort and of fleet! / Welcome her, thundering cheer of the street! 1864, Alfred Tennyson, “A Welcome to Alexandria. March 7, 1863.”, in Enoch Arden, &c., London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 164:
(countable) A chant made in support of a team at a sports event.
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) One's facial expression or countenance.
And soo on the morne they were alle accorded that they shold departe eueryche from other / And on the morne they departed with wepynge chere / and euery knyȝt took the way that hym lyked best 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “viij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XIII:
‘thorough evill rest of this last night, / Or ill apayd or much dismayd ye be; / That by your change of cheare is easie for to see.’ 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
Heraclitus taking pitie and compassion of the very same condition of ours, was continually seene with a sad, mournfull, and heavie cheere [translating visage], and with teares trickling downe his blubbered eyes. 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 50, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
The parents […] fled away with heavy cheer. 1659, T[itus] Livius [i.e., Livy], “(please specify the book number)”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Romane Historie […], London: […] W. Hunt, for George Sawbridge, […], →OCLC:
And anon he talked with them, and sayde unto them: be of good chere, it is I, be not afrayed. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Mark:
ms sorakan (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · el επευφημία (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · it buonumore (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · nl jubel (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · es viva (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · fa هلهله (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · de Jubel (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · grc εὐφροσύνη (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · sv hejaramsa (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · tl saya (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · el ζητωκραυγή (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · no heiarop (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · hu éljen (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · bg одобрително възклицание (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · pl hura (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · hu vidámság (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · pl hurra (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · eo hurao (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · pl wiwat (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · sq çiltersi (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · yi אָוואַציע (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · is fagn (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · nl juich (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · mk восклик (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · bg настроение (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · fi kannustushuuto (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · es vítor (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · fi hurraahuuto (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · tl tuwa (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · hu jókedv (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · el χαιρετισμός (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · mi umere (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · ga gáir (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · fi hilpeys (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · el επευφημία (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · fi iloisuus (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · is fögnuður (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · de Jauchzer (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · es víctor (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · es hurra (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy) · es alegría (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · hu jó hangulat (a cheerful attitude; gaiety) · he תשואות (a cry of "hurrah", "hurray", "yeah", or some other word expressing joy)
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”).
Meanings
(transitive) To gladden; to make cheerful; often with up.
How often shall her old fireside
Be cheer’d with tidings of the bride,
How often she herself return, […] 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXIX”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 61:
We were cheered by the offer of a cup of tea.
(transitive) To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort.
The proud he tam'd, the penitent he cheer'd. 1700, [John] Dryden, “The Character of a Good Parson; Imitated from Chaucer, and Inlarg’d”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
(obsolete, transitive) To encourage to do something.
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. 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:
(ambitransitive) To applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts.
The crowd cheered in support of the athletes.
The crowd cheered the athletes.
(figuratively, transitive) To feel or express enthusiasm for (something).
de aufmuntern (to make cheerful) · hu drukkol (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · hu tapsol (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · sa प्रीणाति (to make cheerful) · it incitare (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · ain ヤヨパㇻセチュイ (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · pl wiwatować (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · cmn 助威 (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · ru подба́дривать (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · is peppa upp (to make cheerful) · vi cổ vũ (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · eo gajigi (to make cheerful) · el χαροποιώ (to make cheerful) · fr acclamer (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · he עוֹדֵד (to make cheerful) · hu jókedvre derít (to make cheerful) · mi hūrē (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · ja 声援する (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · fr applaudir (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · ru аплоди́ровать (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · es vitorear (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · ru воодушевля́ть (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · hu éljenez (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · es victorear (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · nl opbeuren (to make cheerful) · th เชียร์ (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · es aclamar (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · nl opfleuren (to make cheerful) · mi titihaoa (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · no heie (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · is porra upp (to make cheerful) · pt aclamar (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · fi kannustaa (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · is fagna (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · sv heja (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · hu felderít (to make cheerful) · ga misneach a thabhairt do (to make cheerful) · de jauchzen (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · nl juichen (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · el επευφημώ (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · bg аплодирам (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · mi manahau (to make cheerful) · ru ликова́ть (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · cmn 喝彩 (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · mi whakakoakoa (to make cheerful) · bg радвам (to make cheerful) · cmn 歡呼 /欢呼 (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · cmn 喝采 (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · ga scairt (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · he הֵרִיעַ (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · eo hurai (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · la laetificō (to make cheerful) · it esultare (to make cheerful) · fi ilahduttaa (to make cheerful) · nl jubelen (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · cmn 助陣 /助阵 (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · sv hurra (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · is uppörva (to make cheerful) · bg зарадвам (to make cheerful) · nl opvrolijken (to make cheerful) · mi titihawa (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · ru боле́ть (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · mi umere (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · hu biztat (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · fi hurrata (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · de jubeln (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · hu felvidít (to make cheerful) · hu éltet (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · mi manamanahau (to make cheerful) · de bejubeln (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · ru поощря́ть (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · da heppe (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · el ζητωκραυγάζω (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · de aufheitern (to make cheerful) · de erfreuen (to make cheerful) · ru приве́тствовать (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · hu buzdít (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · ja 励ます (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · hu szurkol (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · ja 喝采する (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · la hilarō (to make cheerful) · es ovacionar (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts) · eo plifervorigi (to applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts)
(Canada, US, uncountable) Cheerleading, especially when practiced as a competitive sport.
...[P]erspective [sic] gym cheer programs must address how to support a cheer program while maintaining appropriate and safe skill progressions. 1999, Jim Lord, Chris Calvert., Cheerleading: Where Does Your Gym Fit In?:
2018, Chad Thompson. Iowa Central cheer team is tops at national competition in The Messenger.
The Iowa Central Community College cheer team has achieved something no other college in Iowa has before.
2000, Linda Villarosa. Cheerleading Changes, and Injuries Increase in The New York Times.
Last year, more than 75,000 high school participants took part in cheerleading competitions, and the National Federation of State High School Associations says that "competitive cheer" is the fastest growing sport for girls.
Alex participated in cheer all four years of college.
I'm going to wear my new cheer shoes at cheer today.
Well then, I seed a little junewile get on a cheer and smash— [1869?], Thomas J[ohn] Williams, A Terrible Tinker! A Farce in One Act (French’s Minor Drama; 320), New York, N.Y.: Samuel French, […], →OCLC, page 21:
‘Stand on a cheer, Gooerge, ye’ll have moor might,’ said an old father, when his son was trying to pull a nail out of a beam at arm’s length. 1904, Gertrude Jekyll, “Old Country Folk—Their Ways of Speech”, in Old West Surrey: Some Notes and Memories, London; New York, N.Y.; Bombay: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 220:
“I’ll just take that there soup-bowl,” he remarked. “Mount up on a cheer, little gal, an’ hand it down to me.” 1892 April 11, Julia Truitt Bishop, “No Coward After All”, in Buffalo Evening News, volume XXIII, number 154, Buffalo, N.Y., →OCLC, page 3, column 2: