cherish

verb

cher·​ish ˈcher-ish 

ˈche-rish

cherished; cherishing; cherishes

transitive verb

1

a

: to hold dear : feel or show affection for

cherished her friends

b

: to keep or cultivate with care and affection : nurture

cherishes his marriage

2

: to entertain or harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely

still cherishes that memory

cherishable

ˈcher-i-shə-bəl 

ˈche-ri-

adjective

cherisher

ˈcher-i-shər 

ˈche-ri-

noun

Synonyms

• adore
• love
• worship

Choose the Right Synonym for cherish

appreciate, value, prize, treasure, cherish mean to hold in high estimation.

appreciate often connotes sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing's excellence.

appreciates fine wine

value implies rating a thing highly for its intrinsic worth.

values our friendship

prize implies taking a deep pride in something one possesses.

Americans prize their freedom

treasure emphasizes jealously safeguarding something considered precious.

a treasured memento

cherish implies a special love and care for something.

cherishes her children above all

Examples of cherish in a Sentence

a book cherished by many

I will always cherish that memory.

Recent Examples on the Web

Seeing how happy this experience made Kylie is a memory that Saraceno, 43, will always cherish. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

On a street that feels tucked away but is only a stone’s throw from one of the busiest shopping roads in London, Choosing Keeping is a destination for those inspired to find souvenirs and gifts that have been sourced for their integrity: beautifully wrapped, and intended to be kept and cherished. —Carmen Rosy Hall, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2024

For the next 10 minutes, Valvano delivered a speech that still resonates today, mixing humor, motivational anecdotes and inspiring people to cherish their lives. —Tim Casey, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Visit with Santa, share your holiday wishes, and capture the magic moment with a photo to cherish. —Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cherisshen, from Anglo-French cheriss-, stem of cherir to cherish, from cher dear, from Latin carus — more at charity

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

cherish

verb

cher·​ish ˈcher-ish 

1

: to hold dear : feel or show affection for

cherished her friends

2

: to keep with care and affection : nurture

cherishes her friendship

3

: to harbor in the mind

cherish a hope