What does cherishing mean?
'Cherishing' is the act of holding someone or something dear — caring for it lovingly, protecting it, and treating it as precious. As the present participle of the verb 'cherish,' it can describe ongoing action ('she was cherishing every moment'), while as a noun it names the practice itself ('the cherishing of old friendships'). Beyond people and possessions, English speakers commonly speak of cherishing intangible things: a memory, a hope, a belief, or an ideal kept alive in the mind over years. The word carries a distinctly warm, tender connotation, which makes it a favorite in literature, eulogies, and personal writing, though it can sound sentimental in plain factual prose. Its lineage traces back through Old French 'cherir' (to hold dear) to the Latin 'carus,' meaning dear — the same root that produced 'charity' and 'caress.' To cherish, then, is linguistically akin to showing love, making 'cherishing' a rich word for expressing devoted, enduring affection.
The action or practice of holding someone or something dear and caring for it lovingly.
"Her quiet cherishing of family traditions gave the holidays their warmth."
Usually uncountable when used as a gerund.
Present participle of 'cherish': to protect, care for, or keep alive with affection, or to maintain a hope, memory, or belief in one's mind.
"They stood by the old oak tree, cherishing the shade it had given three generations."
Often used in progressive tenses ('was cherishing') or as a modifier ('a cherishing parent').
Every time you say 'cherish,' you're echoing the Latin word for 'dear' — the same root that gave us 'charity.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cherishing
'Cherishing' derives from the verb 'cherish,' which entered Middle English in the late medieval period from Old French 'cherir,' meaning to hold dear, formed on 'cher' (dear). The French word ultimately descends from the Latin adjective 'carus,' meaning dear or beloved. That same Latin root gave rise to 'charity' (via Latin 'caritas') and 'caress,' making them true cognates of 'cherish.' The participial form '-ing' follows standard English verb morphology.
Related word forms
How cherishing is actually used
'Cherishing' carries a warm, tender connotation and leans literary or emotive rather than neutral; it suits contexts of love, memory, and long-held feelings. The second sense (cherishing a hope or idea) often appears with abstract objects like 'hope,' 'belief,' 'memory,' or 'dream.'
Easily confused with cherishing
Though similar in sound and spelling, 'flourishing' means thriving or growing vigorously, while 'cherishing' means lovingly treasuring or protecting something.