Cool MateCheer vs Encourage
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Cheer
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Encourage
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
| Cheer | Encourage | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃɪə(r)/","/tʃɪəz/","/tʃɪəd/","/ˈtʃɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃɪr/","/tʃɪrz/","/tʃɪrd/","/ˈtʃɪrɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ//🇺🇸 //ɪnˈkɜrɪdʒ// |
| Meaning | To shout in a happy way to show support. | To make someone want to do something or feel confident. |
| Example | We all cheered as the team came onto the field. | Teachers always try to encourage their students to focus on their studies. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | loudly, wildly, for, greatly, a lot, a bit, with | encourage someone to do something, encourage growth, encourage participation |
| Antonyms | boo, jeer | discourage, dissuade |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'cheer' with 'cheerful', Using 'cheer' as a noun instead of a verb, Saying 'cheers' instead of 'cheer' for singular instances | Using 'encourage' without an object (e.g. 'I encourage to study' instead of 'I encourage you to study')., Confusing with 'discourage' which means to make someone less confident., Using the wrong verb form after 'to' (e.g. 'encourage you study' instead of 'encourage you to study'). |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in the context of sports or performances. Appropriate in both casual and formal settings when showing support or encouragement. Avoid using in serious or somber contexts. | Used when you want to support someone in taking action or improving their situation. It is appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Cheer vs Encourage
What's the difference between Cheer and Encourage?
Cheer: To shout in a happy way to show support. Encourage: To make someone want to do something or feel confident.
Are Cheer and Encourage the same CEFR level?
Cheer: B2, Encourage: B1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Cheer and Encourage interchangeably?
Not always. Cheer and Encourage are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.