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.

I really cherish my marriage, and our family, and I just didn’t want to mess it up.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

"May your kind soul rest in peace Alex. Ore mi like you fondly called me, I will always remember and cherish the good times we shared together."

From BBC • May 13, 2026

He hopes you’ll want to take it home, snuggle with it and cherish it as an essential member of your household.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 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

I cherish my own freedom dearly, but I care even more for your freedom.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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!