Cherish vs Love what

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Cherish

Top 3,000 (common)

Love what

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Love what
 CherishLove what
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈtʃɛrɪʃ//🇺🇸 //ˈtʃɛrɪʃ//🇬🇧 //lʌv wɒt//🇺🇸 //lʌv wɑt//
MeaningTo love and take care of something or someoneA phrase used to express enjoyment or appreciation of something.
ExampleI will always **cherish** the moments we spent together.I love what you've done with the decorations!
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
Collocationscherish a memory, cherish a relationship, cherish an opportunity, cherish the moments, cherish your loved oneslove what you do, love what you see, love what you hear
Antonymsneglect, disdain, abandon-
Common mistakesConfusing with 'cherish' and 'cherished' without knowing the tense., Using 'cherish' for material possessions instead of emotions or relationships., Saying 'cherish for' instead of 'cherish'.Confused with 'love that' - 'love what' is more specific., Using 'love what' with incomplete clauses., Incorrectly stressing 'what' in casual speech.
Usage notesUse 'cherish' for valuable people or memories. More emotional than 'value'. Avoid in casual conversations.Use this phrase when you want to show strong positive feelings towards something specific. It is often used in responses to questions or statements.

See it in real clips

Cherish
Love what

Frequently asked questions: Cherish vs Love what

What's the difference between Cherish and Love what?

Cherish: To love and take care of something or someone Love what: A phrase used to express enjoyment or appreciation of something.

Which is more common: Cherish and Love what?

Love what is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Cherish: I will always **cherish** the moments we spent together. Love what: I love what you've done with the decorations!

Can I use Cherish and Love what interchangeably?

Not always. Cherish and Love what 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.

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