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Synonyms

greeting

American  
[gree-ting] / ˈgri tɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act or words of a person who greets.

  2. a friendly message from someone who is absent.

    a greeting from a friend in another country.

  3. greetings, an expression of friendly or respectful regard.

    Send my greetings to your family.


greeting British  
/ ˈɡriːtɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act or an instance of welcoming or saluting on meeting

  2. (often plural)

    1. an expression of friendly salutation

    2. ( as modifier )

      a greetings card

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of greeting

before 900; Middle English, Old English gretinge. See greet 1, -ing 1

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.

Greeting theatergoers at the start of the performance, Izzard advises that if anyone has come under the mistaken impression that this is a new comedy act, the time to escape is now.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2026

Greeting her was Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs in the State Department.

From New York Times • May 2, 2024

Greeting students was Sherry Thompson, 43, a former hospital switchboard operator and manager of a local inn who joined a company that provides services such as transportation for vice presidents of major oil companies.

From Seattle Times • May 4, 2023

Greeting listeners with a "bore da", Owain Wyn Evans will present the show Monday to Friday, from 04:00 to 06:30.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2023

Offstage, she watched them perform their elaborate Official Greeting.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy