welcome
Americaninterjection
noun
verb (used with object)
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to greet the arrival of (a person, guests, etc.) with pleasure or kindly courtesy.
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to receive or accept with pleasure; regard as pleasant or good.
to welcome a change.
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to meet, accept, or receive (an action, challenge, person, etc.) in a specified, especially unfriendly, manner.
They welcomed him with hisses and catcalls.
adjective
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gladly received, as one whose arrival gives pleasure.
a welcome visitor.
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agreeable, as something arriving, occurring, or experienced.
a welcome rest.
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given full right by the cordial consent of others.
She is welcome to try it.
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without obligation for the courtesy, favor, or service received (used as a conventional response to expressions of thanks): He thanked me, and I told him he was welcome.
You're quite welcome; I'm glad you like the gift.
He thanked me, and I told him he was welcome.
idioms
adjective
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gladly and cordially received or admitted
a welcome guest
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bringing pleasure or gratitude
a welcome gift
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freely permitted or invited
you are welcome to call
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under no obligation (only in such phrases as you're welcome or he's welcome , as conventional responses to thanks)
noun
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the act of greeting or receiving a person or thing; reception
the new theory had a cool welcome
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to come more often or stay longer than is acceptable or pleasing
verb
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to greet the arrival of (visitors, guests, etc) cordially or gladly
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to receive or accept, esp gladly
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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prewelcomenoun
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welcomenessnoun
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welcomernoun
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unwelcomeadjective
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unwelcomedadjective
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unwelcomingadjective
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welcomelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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welcomesimple
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welcomessimple
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have welcomedperfect
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has welcomedperfect
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am welcomingprogressive
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are welcomingprogressive
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is welcomingprogressive
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have been welcomingperfect progressive
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has been welcomingperfect progressive
Past
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welcomedsimple
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had welcomedperfect
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was welcomingprogressive
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were welcomingprogressive
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had been welcomingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of welcome
First recorded before 900; Middle English, from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse velkominn, equivalent to vel well 1 + kominn come (past participle); replacing Old English wilcuma “one who is welcome,” equivalent to wil- welcome ( see will 2) + cuma “comer”
Explanation
A welcome is a greeting that usually comes when you first arrive. Although you aren't fond of Aunt Martha, you always manage to give her a warm welcome when she comes to visit. When you accept someone into your home courteously, especially upon arrival, you welcome them. When you visit your grandparents, they welcome you with open arms and a plate of homemade cookies. They might even shout, "Welcome!" when you walk in the door. Welcome also means to gladly accept. The president of the French club will welcome your fundraising idea, especially if it involves baked goods.
Vocabulary lists containing welcome
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
More than 1,000 supporters turned out in the heat to welcome him mid-afternoon at a military airport in Dakar, where he greeted the crowd from atop a vehicle.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
The renewed U.S.-Iran fighting and tensions have sparked a fresh jump in prices for crude oil and gasoline after a welcome retreat in late May and June.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
He’s since become the face of the shop, with a mural dedicated to him outside to welcome customers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
"The Home Office since the local elections have reviewed that and now I fall under Operation Ford. I welcome the movement on that and that's provided me with some extra safety and some extra steps."
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
The wolves would not be welcome in the nursery; that much was certain.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
The front page also features a photograph of a smiling Sir Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shaking hands, next to the caption: "United front: Zelensky welcomes PM on final trip to Ukraine".
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Instead, the movie welcomes audiences of all kinds by playing up LA’s inherent absurdity.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
Warsh has said he welcomes disagreement or a “family fight” among Fed officials in which they debate policy with an open mind.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
A two-story flamingo sculpture named Phoebe welcomes visitors at Tampa International Airport.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
The breeze welcomes them, skidding over the surface of my skin, raising hair after hair, tingling, awakening every exposed inch of me.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
The listing came amid a time of significant change for Duhamel, who welcomed this third child—and second with Mari—in May.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
The couple's family have welcomed the appointment on Monday of the UK's first ever envoy to support British nationals detained abroad in complex cases where there are concerns about welfare, due process or human rights.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
"The softer inflation data is likely to be welcomed by Federal Reserve officials, reducing the immediate pressure for further rate hikes," wrote Fiona Cincotta at City Index.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Just six weeks after the fire, Dan Tana’s welcomed customers again, even without a roof.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Coming from Abigail, however, the political advice was welcomed.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
The club ran for three days, run by travel company Run Weekends and McNamara described it as "welcoming" and "lovely with great vibes" as everyone ran together at a slow pace.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
As that market became less welcoming to transgressive weirdos, the author began to shift gears.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Despite the negative rhetoric about their ties from some quarters, New Zealand's Luxon has been promoting a welcoming image for Modi's visit to a country that is home to an Indian diaspora of about 300,000.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Set on a beautifully lush plot, the home blends rustic charm with modern luxury, welcoming guests with exposed brick walls, soaring wood-beamed ceilings, an open-concept layout, and thoughtfully updated finishes throughout.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
Elizebeth also knew that the Navy was not a welcoming workplace for women.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
