cheer

plural cheers

1. uncountableA cheerful attitude; happiness; a good, happy, or positive mood.First known use 14th c.

   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]

2. uncountableThat which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness, especially food and entertainment prepared for a festive occasion.

   a table loaded with good cheer

   2 more examples

   "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

3. countableA cry expressing joy, approval or support, such as "hurrah".First known use 18th c.

   A cheer rose from the crowd.

   2 more examples

   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

   Synonyms: applause, plaudit, clap, mitting, clapping, acclaim, acclamation, laudits · Antonyms: boo

4. countableA chant made in support of a team at a sports event.
5. countableobsoleteuncountableOne's facial expression or countenance.First known use 13th–19th c.

   ‘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

   2 more examples

   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

   And so they all agreed that they should depart from each other in the morning / And in the morning they departed with weeping faces / and every knight took the way that pleased him best

   1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “viij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XIII

   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

6. archaiccountableuncountableOne's attitude, mood.First known use 14th c.

   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

   1 more example

   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

present singular third person cheers · participle present cheering · participle past cheered · past cheered

1. transitiveTo gladden; to make cheerful; often with up.

   We were cheered by the offer of a cup of tea.

   1 more example

   ⁠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

   Synonyms: cheer up, upcheer, beatify, enrapture, begladden, blissen, bright, fetch

2. transitiveTo 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

   Synonyms: comfort, solace, besoothe, comfort, console, solace, soothe, animate

3. obsoletetransitiveTo 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

   Synonyms: goad, stir up, abet, actuate, goose, fuel, light a fire under, send

4. ambitransitiveTo applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts.

   The crowd cheered the athletes.

   1 more example

   The crowd cheered in support of the athletes.

   Synonyms: beclap, cheer on, encheer, hurrah, hurray, huzzah · Antonyms: boo, jeer, gird, jeer, jibe, laugh at, scoff, scorn

5. figurativelytransitiveTo feel or express enthusiasm for (something).

   The finance sector will cheer this decision.

   Synonyms: hail, salute

1. CanadaUSuncountableCheerleading, especially when practiced as a competitive sport.

   I'm going to wear my new cheer shoes at cheer today.

   4 more examples

   Alex participated in cheer all four years of college.

   ...[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?

   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.

   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.

plural cheers

1. pronunciation spellingPronunciation spelling of chair.

   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

   2 more examples

   “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

   ‘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