Definitions

cherish

[cher-ish] / ˈtʃɛr ɪʃ /

VERB

care about deeply

Synonyms

STRONGEST

admire adore appreciate care for cling to cultivate defend embrace encourage enshrine entertain harbor hold dear honor love preserve revere safeguard treasure worship

STRONG

clasp coddle comfort cosset fancy fondle foster guard hug idolize like nourish nurse nurture pet prize reverence shelter shield support sustain value venerate

WEAK

cleave to dote on hold in high esteem

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abhor condemn despise destroy detest dishonor dislike disparage disregard disrespect hate hurt ignore neglect reject scorn

STRONG

deprive let go release starve turn away

WEAK

abandon denounce forsake not care renounce

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"It becomes something you cherish and hold on to," he said.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

“We learned early on that we are not just providing delicious New England Chinese food; we are connecting people to the memories they cherish from their childhood,” says Lawlor.

From Salon • May 3, 2026

“We cherish pleasure,” the authors write unabashedly, “and believe a politics without it will be unattractive, drab, listless, and doomed to failure.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

"We should all cherish what we have been gifted."

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

I understand that there are people out there who don’t even know their fathers, and I cherish every moment spent with him.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

Vocabulary lists containing cherish

Love Letter Words for Valentine's Day

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Balcony Scene from "Romeo and Juliet"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Metamorphosis

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!