Meaning 1
To make someone feel happier or more hopeful.
Reach for it when describing an action that lifts a person's mood
A handwritten note helped cheer the homesick camper.
Meaning 2
To call out approval or encouragement for a person or team.
Reach for it when naming visible audience support during an effort or performance
Families lined the final hill to cheer every cyclist.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| everyday |
| |
| warm |
| |
| professional | ||
| formal | ||
| literary |
everyday
Fits when a small act improves a mood or day
Careful Brighten suggests a lighter shift and may undersell deep discouragement.
warm
Fits when easing sadness or distress is the immediate need
Careful Comfort may soothe pain without creating happiness or hope.
professional
Fits when strengthening confidence or effort matters most
Careful Encouragement can be serious and need not brighten the mood.
literary
Fits when causing heartfelt pleasure suits a graceful tone
Careful The old-fashioned word can sound affected in everyday advice.
everyday
root for
Fits when loyal hope for someone's success is central
Careful Private support can count as rooting for someone without any audible cheer.
professional
Fits when clapping expresses approval after an achievement
Careful People can cheer with voices, signs, or presence before the result is known.
formal
Fits when energetic support gathers people around a side or cause
Careful Rallying is organized and collective, unlike one person's simple encouragement.
cheer someone up
The visit was arranged to cheer Marta up after surgery.
cheer loudly
Supporters began to cheer loudly as the final runner appeared.
cheer from the sidelines
Injured players came to cheer from the sidelines.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
Your browser isn't saving lists, so this one will be cleared when you leave the page.