cheering

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of cheer.

   The crowd kept cheering until the players came back for an encore.

   Cheering wildly, the supporters filled the stadium with noise.

   Note

   One spelling doing two grammatical jobs. After a form of be it builds the progressive (the fans were cheering), and as a gerund it heads a noun phrase (cheering the team on was exhausting). The verb behind it may take an object or not, so you can simply be cheering, be cheering a goal, or be cheering someone up. As a phrase head it shades into the noun for a shout.

2. 2
   noununcountable

   A shout of approval, joy, or encouragement, typically given by a crowd.

   A roar of cheering swept through the stadium as the champion appeared.

   The announcement was greeted with enthusiastic cheering from every corner of the hall.

   Similarapplause, acclaim, acclamation

   Oppositebooing, jeering

   Note

   Unlike the gerund, this noun can be counted and pluralized. The Gentleman's Magazine of 1814 describes "the loud cheerings of the crews" rivaling the roar of cannon as ships were saluted. It also works as a mass noun, as in a roar of cheering. For a single shout, the shorter cheer does the same work.

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