rah

American  

[rah] / rɑ /

interjection

1. (used as an exclamation of encouragement to a player or team.)

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rah British  

/ rɑː /

interjection

1. informal short for hurrah

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Usage

What does rah mean? Rah is a word that’s shouted as a cheer, typically by cheerleaders or fans at sporting events. It’s associated with traditional cheers that are used to cheer on a team or player—like the classic rah, rah, sis boom bah. Due to its use as a cheer, rah is almost always spoken (shouted, actually) and is rarely written, except perhaps in descriptions of cheers. Example: Led by the cheerleaders, the crowd cheered “rah, rah!” as the team ran onto the field.

Etymology

Origin of rah

First recorded in 1865–70; short for hurrah

Example Sentences

“And also we’re not doing this to go, ‘Rah, rah, look at us,’ to poke everybody across Canada, to get rid of the Crown.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2024

“You know those guys, they’re rah, rah, for real,” said fourth-year linebacker Jaylan Ford.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 28, 2023

But that was some of what I was trying to do with this book — it’s called “Art Monsters,” by the way, not “rah rah, amazing art heroines!”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2023

“Washington — First in war, first in peace, last in the American League, rah, rah, rah.”

From Washington Post • May 1, 2023

My opening paragraph rah some three pages, and very nearly smoked.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger