Cherish vs. Relish — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 27, 2024
Cherish involves holding something dear and treating it with affection and care, typically in a lasting, emotional sense; relish refers to enjoying or taking pleasure in an activity or experience, often with visible enthusiasm.
Difference Between Cherish and Relish
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Key Differences
Cherish is about valuing someone or something deeply, often with an emotional attachment that involves love or high regard. Whereas relish involves deriving pleasure or enjoyment from an experience, focusing more on the satisfaction gained in the moment.
Cherishing someone often implies a sense of preservation and long-term commitment, reflecting a deep emotional bond. On the other hand, relishing something can be more about seizing the moment and savoring the immediate experience or flavor.
While to cherish can often be associated with intangible qualities or memories, such as cherishing a loved one's memory or a cherished belief. Relish is more commonly associated with tangible, immediate experiences, like relishing a meal or an opportunity.
Cherishing is typically a quieter, more reflective action, indicating tenderness and care. Conversely, relishing something is usually a more active, enthusiastic expression, indicating eagerness and delight.
Cherish implies a steady, enduring affection that can influence one’s actions and choices over a long period. In contrast, relish is often momentary, highlighting a transient enjoyment or appreciation of specific aspects of an experience.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To hold dear; treat with affection and care.
To enjoy greatly; take delight in.
Emotional Context
Deep, enduring emotional attachment.
Immediate, enthusiastic pleasure.
Usage Context
Often used with relationships or deep values.
Commonly used for experiences or activities.
Expression
Tends to be reflective and tender.
Often visible and enthusiastic.
Duration
Long-term affection and care.
Momentary enjoyment.
Compare with Definitions
Cherish
To hold onto something valued for a long time.
He cherishes the watch his grandfather left him.
Relish
To savor or enjoy food or drink.
He relished every bite of his steak.
Cherish
To maintain or sustain with care.
They cherished their friendship through the years.
Relish
To enjoy an experience or activity very much.
He relishes his morning run.
Cherish
To protect and care for someone lovingly.
She cherished her children above all else.
Relish
To enjoy the thought of something that is likely to happen.
He relished the idea of a well-deserved vacation.
Cherish
To harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely.
She cherished his words in her heart.
Relish
To take pleasure in something.
She relished the chance to show off her new skills.
Cherish
To keep a hope or ambition in one's mind.
He cherished the dream of becoming an artist.
Relish
To appreciate or like something immensely.
She relished the quiet after the storm.
Cherish
To treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear
Cherish one's family.
Fine rugs that are cherished by their owners.
Relish
A relish is a cooked and pickled product made of chopped vegetables, fruits, pickles or herbs and is a food item typically used as a condiment or as a salsa to enhance a staple. Examples are chutneys and the North American relish, a pickled cucumber jam eaten with hot dogs or hamburgers.
Cherish
To keep fondly in mind; treasure
Cherish a memory.
Relish
Hearty enjoyment or appreciation
"pausing with the relish of a man who knows he's about to get off a zinger" (Tad Friend).
Cherish
To treat with affection, care, and tenderness; to nurture or protect with care.
Relish
Something that lends pleasure or zest
The fact that the opposing team is our longtime rival was an added relish to our victory.
Cherish
To have a deep appreciation of; to hold dear.
I cherish your friendship.
Relish
A keen liking for something
A relish for adventure.
Cherish
(obsolete) To cheer, to gladden.
Relish
A spicy or savory condiment or appetizer, such as chutney or olives.
Cherish
To treat with tenderness and affection; to nurture with care; to protect and aid.
We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.
Relish
A condiment of chopped sweet pickles.
Cherish
To hold dear; to embrace with interest; to indulge; to encourage; to foster; to promote; as, to cherish religious principle.
To cherish virtue and humanity.
Relish
The flavor of a food, especially when appetizing.
Cherish
Be fond of; be attached to
Relish
A trace or suggestion of a pleasurable quality.
Relish
To take keen pleasure in; enjoy fully
Relished every minute of their vacation.
Relish
To be pleased with or look forward to
I don't relish speaking with that student's parents about his behavior.
Relish
(Archaic) To give spice or flavor to.
Relish
(Archaic) To have a pleasing or distinctive taste.
Relish
A pleasant taste.
Relish
Enjoyment; pleasure.
Relish
A quality or characteristic tinge.
Relish
(followed by "for") A taste (for); liking (of); fondness.
Relish
A cooked or pickled sauce, usually made with vegetables or fruits, generally used as a condiment.
Relish
In a wooden frame, the projection or shoulder at the side of, or around, a tenon, on a tenoned piece.
Relish
Something that is greatly liked or savoured.
Relish
(transitive) To taste or eat with pleasure, to like the flavor of
Relish
(transitive) To take great pleasure in.
He relishes their time together.
I don't relish the idea of going out tonight.
Relish
To taste; to have a specified taste or flavour.
Relish
(transitive) To give a taste to; to cause to taste nice, to make appetizing.
Relish
To give pleasure.
Relish
To taste or eat with pleasure; to like the flavor of; to partake of with gratification; hence, to enjoy; to be pleased with or gratified by; to experience pleasure from; as, to relish food.
Now I begin to relish thy advice.
He knows how to prize his advantages, and to relish the honors which he enjoys.
Relish
To give a relish to; to cause to taste agreeably.
A savory bit that served to relish wine.
Relish
To have a pleasing or appetizing taste; to give gratification; to have a flavor.
Had I been the finder-out of this secret, it would not have relished among my other discredits.
A theory, which, how much soever it may relish of wit and invention, hath no foundation in nature.
Relish
A pleasing taste; flavor that gratifies the palate; hence, enjoyable quality; power of pleasing.
Much pleasure we have lost while we abstainedFrom this delightful fruit, nor known till nowTrue relish, tasting.
When liberty is gone,Life grows insipid, and has lost its relish.
Relish
Savor; quality; characteristic tinge.
It preserve some relish of old writing.
Relish
A taste for; liking; appetite; fondness.
A relish for whatever was excelent in arts.
I have a relish for moderate praise, because it bids fair to be j dicious.
Relish
That which is used to impart a flavor; specifically, something taken with food to render it more palatable or to stimulate the appetite; a condiment.
Relish
The projection or shoulder at the side of, or around, a tenon, on a tenoned piece.
Relish
Vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
Relish
Spicy or savory condiment
Relish
The taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth
Relish
Derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in;
She relished her fame and basked in her glory
Common Curiosities
What is an example of relishing a moment?
Relishing a moment might involve taking extra pleasure in a special event, like savoring the atmosphere at a concert.
Is cherishing more intense than liking?
Yes, cherishing involves a deeper emotional commitment and affection than merely liking something.
Can you relish negative experiences?
Typically, relish is used for pleasurable experiences, though one might relish a challenge or difficult task for the satisfaction of overcoming it.
How can one cherish a memory?
One can cherish a memory by holding it dear, often revisiting and reflecting on it with affection.
How does relish add to a meal?
Relish can enhance a meal by adding flavor and enjoyment, making it more pleasurable to eat.
How do you show you cherish something?
Showing you cherish something often involves careful preservation, thoughtful treatment, and expressing deep affection.
What does it mean to cherish someone?
To cherish someone means to hold them dear and treat them with loving care and affection.
Can you cherish an object?
Yes, you can cherish an object by treating it with great care and attaching significant emotional value to it.
What makes relish different from enjoy?
Relish implies a deeper, more enthusiastic enjoyment, often with a sense of savoring or delighting in the particulars.
Is relishing always associated with food?
No, while relish can refer to enjoying food, it also broadly applies to taking pleasure in various activities or experiences.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
