cheer up

phrasal verb

cheered up; cheering up; cheers up

1

: to make (someone) happier

We tried our best to cheer the children up.

2

: to become happier

They cheered up at the mention of her name.

Cheer up—things will get better!

3

: to make (something) more cheerful or pleasant

Bright colors really cheer up a room.

Examples of cheer up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rolle-McNeil remembers hugging him goodbye, and then Jak stopped to cheer up his cousin on his way out the door. —Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2025

There’s a touching moment in this episode when Matty tries to cheer up Olympia, who’s worried this case is slipping away from her — along with her career. —Noel Murray, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2025

Doctors speculated that the elderly might be rejuvenated with the blood of children; that melancholics could be cheered up using the blood of happy souls; and that clashing couples might resolve their differences by exchanging blood. —Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025

As for Mambo, caretakers hope the fish will cheer up for good once construction wraps up and visitors are allowed to return this summer. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Jan. 2025

Colin Macy-O’Toole Photo: Bravo/Zev Schmitz/Bravo Deckhand Below Deck Mediterranean Seasons 3-4 — This down-home mama’s boy was always ready with a smile and a halfway corny rap to cheer up everyone onboard. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2024

He’s been through a rough few months, could do with cheering up and, well, he’s got a story to tell. —The Athletic Staff, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024

Her besties try to cheer up their bereaved friend by gifting her a red scarf. —Emily St. Martin, Orange County Register, 18 Dec. 2024

Inventing the Christmas Prince (2022) Shelby (Tamera Mowry-Housley) is a widowed single mother who invents a fantasy story about a Christmas Prince to cheer up her daughter. —Janey Tracey, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024

Rhymes for cheer up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup