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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unwelcomedadjective
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unwelcomeadjective
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welcomelyadverb
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welcomernoun
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unwelcomingadjective
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welcomenessnoun
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prewelcomenoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has welcomedperfect 3rd person singular
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have welcomedperfect
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is welcomingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been welcomingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been welcomingperfect progressive
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welcomessingular 3rd person
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are welcomingprogressive
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am welcomingprogressive 1st person singular
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welcomingparticiple
Past
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had welcomedperfect
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were welcomingprogressive plural
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welcomedparticiple
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had been welcomingperfect progressive
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was welcomingprogressive singular
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welcomedsimple
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.
If anything, we should welcome them; our future depends on it.
From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026
So Beijing is unlikely to welcome a scenario where Russia becomes the dominant influence in Pyongyang.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
I welcome wearables steering me toward good choices, and decided the Oura Ring plus an Apple Watch is still the best combo for me.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
Still, it’s a welcome confirmation of business with the biggest chip maker in the world.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
None of us were welcome anymore in Korla.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
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.
