Meaning & use
be cherished
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
to be loved and valued deeply by someone, or to be kept with care because of its importance
Grammar: This is the passive form of 'cherish'; it is used with 'be' and often followed by 'by someone' or 'as something'.
Patterns
- be cherished by someone
- be cherished as something
- be cherished for something
Her grandmother's ring is cherished by everyone in the family.
The old traditions are still cherished in this small village.
He felt lucky to be cherished by such a kind partner.
Common combinations
- be cherished by
- The painting is cherished by art lovers around the world.
- be cherished as
- The diary is cherished as a record of daily life during the war.
- be cherished for
- She is cherished for her gentle humor and patience.
- be cherished in
- These songs are cherished in many countries.
Synonyms and how they differ
- be treasured
- Similar meaning, but 'treasured' often suggests something is kept safe because it is valuable, while 'cherished' focuses more on warm feelings of love.
- be adored
- Stronger and more emotional than 'cherished'; 'adored' means loved intensely and often openly.
- be prized
- Used more for objects or qualities that are considered very valuable, not usually for people.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: be cherished or cherish?
be cherished vs cherish
The active verb 'cherish' takes an object (e.g., 'I cherish our friendship'), while 'be cherished' is passive and focuses on the person or thing receiving the love.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The passive form 'be cherished' needs the verb 'be' (is) plus the past participle 'cherished'. Option B is correct. Option An is wrong because the active verb 'cherishes' cannot be followed directly by 'by'. Option C uses the present participle 'cherishing', which is not used in this passive structure. Option D lacks the auxiliary 'is'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “be cherished”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.