To cherish someone or something means to love, value, or care for them deeply. It can also mean to hold an idea or memory close in your mind and heart.
“Cherish” comes from Old French “cherir,” meaning “to hold dear,” from “cher,” meaning “dear” or “expensive.” The word blends the idea of emotional value with the sense of something precious.
Cherish is stronger than just “like”—it’s what you do with things you’d be shattered to lose. The word carries a sense of gentle guarding, as if you’re wrapping something in emotional bubble wrap. When you cherish a memory, your brain literally rewires to keep it easier to find.
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