welcome
Americaninterjection
noun
-
welcomes
plural
verb (used with object)
-
welcomes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
welcomed,
past participle, past
-
welcoming
present participle
-
to greet the arrival of (a person, guests, etc.) with pleasure or kindly courtesy.
-
to receive or accept with pleasure; regard as pleasant or good.
to welcome a change.
-
to meet, accept, or receive (an action, challenge, person, etc.) in a specified, especially unfriendly, manner.
They welcomed him with hisses and catcalls.
adjective
-
gladly received, as one whose arrival gives pleasure.
a welcome visitor.
-
agreeable, as something arriving, occurring, or experienced.
a welcome rest.
-
given full right by the cordial consent of others.
She is welcome to try it.
-
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
-
gladly and cordially received or admitted
a welcome guest
-
bringing pleasure or gratitude
a welcome gift
-
freely permitted or invited
you are welcome to call
-
under no obligation (only in such phrases as you're welcome or he's welcome , as conventional responses to thanks)
noun
-
the act of greeting or receiving a person or thing; reception
the new theory had a cool welcome
-
to come more often or stay longer than is acceptable or pleasing
verb
-
to greet the arrival of (visitors, guests, etc) cordially or gladly
-
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
-
welcomesimple
-
welcomessimple
-
have welcomedperfect
-
has welcomedperfect
-
am welcomingprogressive
-
are welcomingprogressive
-
is welcomingprogressive
-
have been welcomingperfect progressive
-
has been welcomingperfect progressive
Past
-
welcomedsimple
-
had welcomedperfect
-
was welcomingprogressive
-
were welcomingprogressive
-
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:
He would "bring a spirit of renewed hope", said the Archbishop, after the Pope received a rapturous welcome in France and Spain earlier this year.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
While the other judges sometimes treat dessert as something illicit, Lawson’s unabashed enthusiasm for baked goods is a welcome change.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
Days before a summit last month with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, President Trump alarmed some lawmakers when he said he would welcome China’s automakers into the country, so long as they built vehicles locally.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
“You’re not welcome in my city,” she told an agent in a video posted on Facebook.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
“And you’re welcome, by the way, for getting you out of there when you were unconscious.”
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
His acknowledgements cite the help of OpenAI models and says that he welcomes any questions about the role of AI, which is upending his entire field.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
He adds that the central point of conflict is Charles “wishes it was a few hundred years ago,” whereas Liz tries to be with the times, progressive and welcomes change.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
On its website, it says it welcomes "above all" veterans of the Ukraine war and their families, as well as students and schoolchildren.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Surge, Slate’s politics newsletter that welcomes Mitch McConnell back to the Senate.
From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2026
A little over five minutes later, a brick sign surrounded by colorful shrubs welcomes us to Brook Falls.
From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
Analysts have broadly welcomed the plan but say it will take time to play out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
ITV welcomed the letter and said the deal would help it "compete with global streaming platforms, benefiting viewers, advertisers and the UK creative industries".
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
They welcomed their first child, Matilda, in March 2023.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
Residents welcomed the decision, although they said the pollution had been even worse earlier in the week.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
He then introduced the student body president, who welcomed us and told us that our school mascot was a saint.
From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez
Manchester City returned to the welcoming surroundings of home for the first time since being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations awash with defiance and presenting an 'us against the world' united front.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Starbucks shares are still up 10.7% so far this year, as the coffee chain tries to revive sales with new drinks and more welcoming coffee shops.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
Anwar's about-face welcoming of Min Aung Hlaing and returning back migrants is partially due to a shift in domestic politics, experts say.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
"The documentary has introduced the competition, Carrbridge, and the wonderful world of porridge to a whole new audience, and we're really looking forward to welcoming this year's competitors to the village," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
At night the lights flickered with a warm and welcoming glow of gold.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
