cheek

1 of 2

noun

1
: the fleshy side of the face below the eye and above and to the side of the mouth
broadly : the lateral aspect of the head
2
: something suggestive of the human cheek in position or form
especially : one of two laterally paired parts
3
: insolent boldness and self-assurance
4
cheekful noun

cheek

2 of 2

verb

cheeked; cheeking; cheeks

transitive verb

chiefly British
: to speak rudely or impudently to
Choose the Right Synonym for cheek

temerity, audacity, hardihood, effrontery, nerve, cheek, gall, chutzpah mean conspicuous or flagrant boldness.

temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.

the nerve of that guy
has the cheek to call herself a singer
had the gall to demand proof
the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

Examples of cheek in a Sentence

Noun He kissed her on the cheek. He's got a cheek ignoring us like that.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
To apply, make the same letter L directly with the liquid blush applicator, making sure that the pattern reaches the base of the temples and the middle of the cheek. Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024 Harris’s cheeks puffed in and out rhythmically, drawing a meditative drone from the didgeridoo while the strings scraped out a sad melody just this side of Ornette Coleman or Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
He’s perched in front of jagged cliffs while hiking outside of Arles, France, a blue baseball cap pulled over his hair, cheeks extra-ruddy in the sun, his default affability tempered by a sense of despondency. Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 27 Sep. 2024 Most Popular Start with the Party Pots Kit, which features three pots of buildable eye, lip, and cheek shimmer in hues Buzz, Click, and Twist. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 27 Nov. 2023 See all Example Sentences for cheek 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cheke, from Old English cēace; akin to Middle Low German kāke jawbone

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cheek was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near cheek

Cite this Entry

“Cheek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheek. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

cheek

noun
ˈchēk
1
: the fleshy side of the face below the eye and above and to the side of the mouth
2
: disrespectful speech or behavior : nerve

Medical Definition

cheek

1 of 2 noun
ˈchēk
1
: the fleshy side of the face below the eye and above and to the side of the mouth
broadly : the lateral aspect of the head
2

cheek

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to conceal (medication) in the cheek for future use
On March 29, two days before she committed suicide, the staff found she had been "cheeking medications" to save them for a later overdose …Michael O'D. Moore, The Bangor (Maine) Daily News

More from Merriam-Webster on cheek

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