Cherish vs. Treasure: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 26, 2023
Cherish means to hold dear and care for lovingly, while Treasure implies valuing something highly, often with a sense of rarity or preciousness.
Key Differences
Cherish conveys a deep sense of caring and affection towards someone or something. It often involves emotional attachment and a sense of nurturing. Treasure, in contrast, implies a high valuation of something, often because it is rare, valuable, or irreplaceable. It can be about both emotional and material appreciation.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Cherish is typically used in the context of relationships and feelings, suggesting a tender and protective attitude. It denotes an ongoing emotional investment and a desire to sustain and nurture. Treasure, however, often refers to objects or memories that are highly valued. While it can be emotional, it also has a connotation of preservation and safeguarding something valuable.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
In terms of emotional depth, cherish implies a more active, nurturing, and ongoing emotional engagement. It's about continuously valuing and caring for someone or something. Treasure suggests a more static state of holding something in high esteem, often because of its inherent or personal value, and can suggest a sense of awe or reverence.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Cherish can be seen in everyday actions and attitudes that demonstrate love and care. It's about embracing and holding onto the emotional significance of someone or something. Treasure, meanwhile, can involve a sense of discovery or realization of value, often leading to a protective or preserving action. It's about recognizing and holding onto value, be it emotional or material.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Finally, cherish is about an emotional bond and ongoing care, often seen in close personal relationships or deeply held beliefs. Treasure is about valuing and often conveys a sense of rarity or preciousness, whether in relationships, possessions, or experiences.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Primary Context
Emotional attachment and nurturing
High valuation and preservation
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Nature of Action
Ongoing care and affection
Protecting and valuing, often with reverence
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
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Cherish and Treasure Definitions
Treasure
To value highly
She treasures the necklace her grandmother gave her.
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Dec 26, 2023
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Treasure
Accumulated or stored wealth in the form of money, jewels, or other valuables
Search for buried treasure.
Spending much of the national treasure on armaments.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Cherish
To treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear
Cherish one's family.
Fine rugs that are cherished by their owners.
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Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
One considered especially precious or valuable
Bought several treasures at the estate sale.
Saw her assistant as a treasure.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Cherish
To treat with affection, care, and tenderness; to nurture or protect with care.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
To accumulate or store away, as for future use
"This same withered and crumbling flower ... Five and fifty years it has been treasured between the leaves of this old volume" (Nathaniel Hawthorne).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Cherish
To have a deep appreciation of; to hold dear.
I cherish your friendship.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
(uncountable) A collection of valuable things; accumulated wealth; a stock of money, jewels, etc.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
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.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
To consider to be precious; to value highly.
Oh, this ring is beautiful! I’ll treasure it forever.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
Wealth accumulated; especially, a stock, or store of money in reserve.
This treasure hath fortune unto us given.
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Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
A great quantity of anything collected for future use; abundance; plenty.
We have treasures in the field, of wheat and of barley, and of oil and of honey.
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Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
That which is very much valued.
Ye shall be peculiar treasure unto me.
From thy wardrobe bring thy chiefest treasure.
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Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
To collect and deposit, as money or other valuable things, for future use; to lay up; to hoard; usually with up; as, to treasure up gold.
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Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
Accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.;
The pirates hid their treasure on a small island in the West Indies
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Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
Any possession that is highly valued by its owner;
The children returned from the seashore with their shells and other treasures
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Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
A collection of precious things;
The trunk held all her meager treasures
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Oct 19, 2023
Treasure
To hold in great respect
She treasures the teachings of her mentor.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can 'cherish' be used for inanimate objects?
Yes, but it often implies an emotional connection to the object.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Do both words imply a positive feeling?
Yes, both convey positive sentiments of care and value.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Can 'cherish' suggest a protective attitude?
Yes, it often involves protecting something emotionally valuable.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Can 'treasure' imply rarity?
Yes, it often connotes something rare or unique.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Is 'treasure' only about physical items?
No, it can also refer to intangible things like memories or experiences.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Does 'cherish' imply a long-term feeling?
Generally, yes, it suggests ongoing affection and care.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Can 'treasure' imply a discovery?
Yes, like discovering something valuable.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Is 'treasure' used in financial contexts?
Yes, it can be used to describe valuable financial assets.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Does 'treasure' always mean something is old or antique?
Not necessarily, it's about value, not age.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Is 'cherish' ever used in a negative way?
Rarely, it's mostly used positively.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Can 'treasure' mean to hide something valuable?
It can imply keeping something safe, which may involve hiding.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Is 'cherish' more about actions or feelings?
It's primarily about feelings, though it can manifest in actions.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Can 'treasure' be about preserving something?
Yes, like treasuring and preserving traditions.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Is 'cherish' used in legal contexts?
Not typically, it's more personal and emotional.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Are 'cherish' and 'treasure' interchangeable?
They can be in some contexts, but they have different nuances.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Does 'cherish' imply exclusivity?
Not necessarily; it's about the depth of feeling.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Can 'treasure' be used metaphorically?
Yes, like treasuring a skill or talent.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Can 'treasure' be used as a noun?
Yes, like 'a treasure' meaning a valuable item.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Does 'cherish' have a formal tone?
It can be both formal and informal, depending on context.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
Can 'cherish' refer to relationships?
Yes, it's often used in the context of personal relationships.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 26, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.