Meaning & use
cheerleading
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The activity of leading cheers and performing routines to support a sports team.
Grammar: Uncountable: 'She does cheerleading.' Not 'a cheerleading' or 'cheerleadings'.
Patterns
- do cheerleading
- cheerleading squad
- cheerleading competition
She joined the cheerleading squad in high school.
Cheerleading requires strength, timing, and a lot of practice.
The cheerleading team performed at halftime.
noununcountablefigurativedisapproving
The act of loudly supporting a person, group, or idea.
Grammar: Used figuratively, often disapproving when it means uncritical support.
Patterns
- cheerleading for someone
- political cheerleading
The newspaper was accused of cheerleading for the government.
His speech was just cheerleading for the company, with no real analysis.
We need honest discussion, not constant cheerleading.
Common combinations
- cheerleading squad
- She tried out for the cheerleading squad.
- cheerleading competition
- Their cheerleading competition is next weekend.
- do cheerleading
- He does cheerleading after school.
- cheerleading routine
- The cheerleading routine included flips and lifts.
Synonyms and how they differ
- supporting
- This is a general word for helping or encouraging; it does not involve the organized sport or routines.
- boosting
- This means increasing or improving something; it is less specific than the organized activity of cheerleading.
Word family
- cheerleader noun
- A person who leads cheers or supports a team.
- cheer verb
- To shout in support or encouragement.
- cheerful adjective
- Happy and positive in mood.
Commonly confused: cheerleading or cheering?
cheerleading vs cheering
'Cheering' is the act of shouting support, while 'cheerleading' is the organized activity with routines and a squad.
Practice
She started ______ when she was ten years old and now competes nationally.
Choose one answer.
The sentence needs the activity noun 'cheerleading'. 'Cheerlead' is not a standard verb here, 'cheerleader' is a person, and 'cheer' is a general verb or noun that does not fit the context of a competitive activity.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cheerleading”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.