Cheer

Cheer is a term with several related meanings centered on happiness, encouragement, and public expression of support. As a noun, it denotes a state of gladness or optimism, such as a person’s cheerful disposition. It can also refer to a sense of morale or good spirits within a group, for example the team’s cheer during a competition, or the overall mood at a social gathering. The word also describes acts of public support: a cheer is a shout or gesture by spectators to encourage players or performers, often performed as a rapid sequence of chants or slogans.

As a verb, to cheer means to raise someone’s spirits, to encourage, or to applaud in support. Common forms include to cheer someone up, to cheer on a team, and to cheer a performer with vocal encouragement during an event.

In sports and entertainment, crowds or participants perform cheers, sometimes organized as chants by cheerleaders or fans. A chorus of voices can produce a single cheer consisting of a short, repeated line or chant.

In addition, the term appears in phrases such as “cheer up” and “cheerfulness,” used to describe mood rather than a specific act. In social etiquette, “cheers” is used as a toast or as a polite expression of thanks or farewell in some varieties of English, though its meaning varies by region.

Related concepts include cheerleading, a sport and performance activity centered on coordinated cheers and routines to energize teams and entertain audiences. In psychology and sociology, cheer is linked to positive affect and social support, which can influence individual well-being and group cohesion.