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cheer

/tʃˈiəz/

plural of cheer; also used as a standalone exclamation

A shout of joy or approval; also a toast said when drinking; used informally to mean "thank you" or "goodbye."

Definitions

  1. 1

    An exclamation said when clinking glasses before drinking, equivalent to 'here's to you' or 'a toast.'

    “Everyone raised their glasses and said "cheers" before taking a sip of wine.”

    Everyone raised their glasses and said "cheers" before taking a sip of wine.

  2. 2

    Shouts or cries of joy, approval, or encouragement from a crowd.

    “Loud cheers filled the stadium when the home team scored a goal.”

    Loud cheers filled the stadium when the home team scored a goal.

  3. 3

    (British, informal) A casual way of saying 'thank you.'

    “The waiter handed over the coffee, and the customer smiled and said "cheers."”

    The waiter handed over the coffee, and the customer smiled and said "cheers."

  4. 4

    (British, informal) A casual way of saying 'goodbye.'

    “After finishing the meeting, he grabbed his coat and said "cheers" on the way out.”

    After finishing the meeting, he grabbed his coat and said "cheers" on the way out.

Word forms

Plural
cheers (the lemma 'cheer' pluralises regularly as 'cheers')
Usage
As an exclamation, 'cheers' is always used in this plural form.

The senses meaning 'thank you' and 'goodbye' are strongly associated with British and Australian English and may sound unusual or even confusing to speakers of American English, who primarily know 'cheers' only as a drinking toast.