cherish

cherish — verb

1. to regard someone or something with deep affection and a strong wish to protect

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to regard someone or something with deep affection and a strong wish to protect and keep them close, because they are extremely precious to you.

Example

Aiko still cherishes the pearl bracelet her grandmother gave her before moving abroad.

cherish + treasured object from loved one

The Watanabe family cherished the old hand-stitched quilt that survived the earthquake.

passive-adjacent: cherished object with history

Common collocations
  • cherish someone deeply
  • cherish a child
  • cherish a pet
  • still cherish
  • always cherish
Synonyms
  • adore

    Stronger emphasis on intense love, sometimes with worshipful quality; common in romantic contexts

  • treasure

    Focuses on the high personal value you place on something or someone

  • dote on

    More informal; implies showing indulgent, often excessive affection

Antonyms
  • neglect

    To fail to care for properly, the opposite of protective care

  • abandon

    To leave behind entirely, opposite of keeping close

Grammar Patterns

cherish somebody/something

Usage Note

Stronger and more tender than simply 'love' — it implies a protective, careful quality. Commonly used with family members, close friends, pets, or personally meaningful objects.

Common Mistakes

I cherish my new phone because it has a good camera.
I like my new phone because it has a good camera.
'Cherish' is too emotionally strong for ordinary possessions; use 'like' or 'enjoy' instead.
She cherished him, so she bought him a gift.
She cherished him, always making sure he felt safe and loved.
'Cherish' implies ongoing protective care, not a one-time action.

2. to carefully develop and maintain something that matters to you, giving it the o

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to carefully develop and maintain something that matters to you, giving it the ongoing time, effort, and attention it needs to grow or thrive.

Example

Diego cherished his friendship with Nadia by calling her every Sunday without fail.

cherish + friendship + active upkeep

The gardener cherished the rare rose bush, watering it by hand each morning.

Common collocations
  • cherish a friendship
  • cherish a tradition
  • cherish a relationship
  • cherish a talent
Synonyms
  • nurture

    More neutral; emphasizes helping something grow through care and attention

  • cultivate

    Deliberate, effortful development over time, often of skills or relationships

  • foster

    Gentle, encouraging support, especially of growth or development in others

Antonyms
  • neglect

    To fail to give the needed care or attention

  • spoil

    To harm by overindulgence or lack of proper care

Grammar Patterns

cherish something

Usage Note

Frequently used with abstract nouns such as 'friendship', 'tradition', 'relationship', or 'talent'. Unlike sense 1, the focus here is on active, ongoing development rather than simply holding someone or something dear.

Common Mistakes

She cherished her garden by watering it once a month.
She cherished her garden by weeding it daily and learning about each plant.
'Cherish' in this sense implies devoted, sustained care, not minimal effort.

3. to keep a meaningful memory, hope, or dream alive in your thoughts over many yea

3.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to keep a meaningful memory, hope, or dream alive in your thoughts over many years, drawing comfort or motivation from it whenever you reflect on it.

Example

Theo still cherished the memory of his first train ride through the Swiss Alps.

cherish + memory of an experience

Yara cherished the hope that one day she would open her own bakery in Seoul.

cherish + hope + long-term dream

Common collocations
  • cherish a memory
  • cherish a hope
  • cherish a dream
  • cherish an idea
  • cherish the thought
Synonyms
  • treasure

    Very close in meaning; 'treasure a memory' emphasises keeping it safe as something valuable

  • hold dear

    More formal; focuses on the emotional importance of what you keep in mind

  • cling to

    Implies unwillingness to let go; can suggest a slightly desperate quality

Antonyms
  • forget

    To let a memory or hope slip from your mind

  • give up

    To stop holding on to a hope or dream

Grammar Patterns

cherish something

Usage Note

Objects are almost always abstract: memories, hopes, dreams, ideals, beliefs, or thoughts. Often suggests the feeling has been kept alive in the mind for a considerable time. Unlike sense 1, there is no physical protection involved.

Common Mistakes

I cherish the idea of eating pizza tonight.
I cherish the idea of travelling around the world with my best friend.
'Cherish' is for meaningful, long-term hopes and dreams, not casual daily plans.
She cherished the memory of yesterday's meeting.
She cherished the memory of her grandfather teaching her to fish as a child.
'Cherish' is reserved for memories that carry deep emotional significance, not routine events.

Word family

  • cherished
    adjectiveB2
  • cherishing
    adjectiveC1
  • cherishable
    adjectiveC2
  • cherisher
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

While all three words express warm feelings towards someone or something, they differ in intensity and context. 'Adore' suggests an almost worshipful love and is common in both romantic and familial contexts — for example, 'She adores her grandchildren and visits them every week.' 'Treasure' focuses on the high personal value you place on something or someone, often with a sense of gratitude, as in 'He treasures the letters his wife wrote during the war.' 'Dote on' implies showing generous, sometimes indulgent affection and is often used for children or pets: 'They dote on their new puppy, buying it toys every week.' 'Cherish' uniquely combines deep love with a protective, careful quality — you not only feel affection but also want to keep the person or thing safe.

adore ↗treasure ↗dote on

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • still cherish
  • always cherish
  • deeply cherish
  • privately cherish
  • forever cherish

Phrases

  • hold and cherish
  • love and cherish
  • cherish and protect

Prepositions

  • cherish as
  • cherish for

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'cherish' came into English from Old French 'cherir', meaning 'to hold dear', which itself came from 'cher' ('dear'). The French root traces back to Latin 'carus', meaning 'dear' or 'precious'. The sense of nurturing or cultivating something with care developed later, and by the 16th century the word was also used for keeping hopes or memories alive in the mind.