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
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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
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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:
Oliver Tambo, the president of the African National Congress, tells Mr. Simon, “we love you. . . . You’re a brother and you have our respect and you’re welcome here.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
This will be welcome news for the new prime minister, who says he wants pupils in England to be able to study technical subjects in addition to core academic learning from Year 10.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
He and his like-minded colleagues should welcome statutory reinforcement of that tradition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
“California has received very little information about why this new federal review is being undertaken. Still, we welcome a fair and transparent evaluation. Our record speaks for itself.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
But, Old Tim,’ I said, ‘what sort of welcome do you think I’ll get at a girls’ school?’
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Amziah knows everyone in the county, welcomes convicts and immigrants to stay on his property, and once raised foster children, until his wife died.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Austin welcomes competition of any and all ages, seeing it as a worthy challenge and a path that will only make him better.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Across Spain, San Juan welcomes summer with infernos and midnight rituals.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026
"As the eyes of the world fall on Glasgow with the Commonwealth Games and the city welcomes people from all over the globe, is disappointing that people are choosing to spread division."
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
The warm welcomes and instant paternal relationships became an essential component of his cleansing and rebirth as he traveled throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, culminating in his great pilgrimage to Mecca.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
The country welcomed 21% more travelers from January to May compared with the same period in 2025, according to the Bank of Greece.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Dudamel initially spoke little English, but the Latino community welcomed him with open arms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Lakers legend Magic Johnson, a former part-owner of the team and past president of basketball operations, welcomed the deal in an X post.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
However, she welcomed the limits on logoed items.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
As Soviet ships arrived in Cuba, Fidel Castro welcomed his new guests with open arms.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Yaqoob, who moved to Glasgow from Pakistan, told the BBC he has mostly found Scotland to be a welcoming place - but that his recent experience had "not been welcoming at all".
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Fiery torches blazed outside the riverside theater, welcoming a combination of well-dressed invitees and lucky ticket-bearing fans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
“We reached out to Loudoun County in Virginia, whose budget was in the red before they started welcoming more data centers. Now they’re operating in the black.”
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
But the way up remains far more welcoming for finance and operating chiefs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Leaving my basket, I ran to him, dirty hands and all, with a glad, welcoming heart.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
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.
