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• at-home
  at-home

  noun

  Also at home a reception of visitors at certain hours at one's home.
• at home
  at home

  In one's own residence, town, or country. For example, Mary was not at home when I called , or Tourists in a foreign country often behave more rudely than they do at home . This idiom was first recorded in a ninth-century treatise.

at-home

American  

[at-hohm] / ætˈhoʊm /

noun

1. Also at home a reception of visitors at certain hours at one's home.

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adjective

1. done or used in the home; intended for one's home.

   a new line of at-home computers; at-home assignments for free-lance workers.

at-home British  

noun

1. another name for open day

2. a social gathering in a person's home

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at home Idioms  

1. In one's own residence, town, or country. For example, Mary was not at home when I called , or Tourists in a foreign country often behave more rudely than they do at home . This idiom was first recorded in a ninth-century treatise.

2. Ready to receive a visitor, as in We are always at home to our neighbor's children . This usage gave rise to the noun at-home , meaning a reception to which guests are invited on a specific day at specific hours (also see open house ). [c. 1600]

3. Also, at home with . Comfortable and familiar, as in Mary always makes us feel at home , or I've never been at home with his style of management . [Early 1500s] Also see at ease , def. 1.

4. Also, at home with . Proficient, well-versed in, as in Young John is so much at home with numbers that he may well become a mathematician , or Chris is really at home in French . [Late 1700s]

5. In team sports, playing on one's own field or in one's own town. For example, The Red Sox always do better at home than they do at away games .

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Etymology

Origin of at-home

First recorded in 1740–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

at-home at home

If we’re giving parents money for childcare, it does indeed seem fair to allow that money to support at-home care too, whether the carer is the child’s parent or a nanny.

From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026

Here are three easy, at-home balance tests that Teater suggests, demonstrated by Los Angeles Times staffer Jazmin Alvarado Villegas, along with a short questionnaire to help get you started.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

Initiatives including A&E blood tests, GP registration testing and free at-home tests have helped to find people who were previously undiagnosed, says NHS England.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Some applicants even send videos of at-home science projects, which can bring their application to life, said Johanna Araujo, the fraud squad’s leader.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

After he lost his job and was the more at-home parent, Dad still made us feel like any ride he gave us was a huge deal.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

I read such stories aloud and adhered to commanding officers’ warnings to keep “notes to the boat” free of any references to stress at home, lest we lower troop morale.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

Americans are cooking more at home as they balance busy schedules, dietary restrictions and high food prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

When child services representatives express their shock that the teenage Gheorghiu children don’t have internet access at home, can’t go on YouTube, and — gasp! — don’t have smartphones, their surprise blunts Mungiu’s sharp point.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

I am not a morning person, so when I wake up I’ll have what I call “starter coffee,” at home.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

Togbe had been old but strong, and losing his help both at home and on the farm was a blow.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

• banquet
• barbecue
• bash
• feast
• festivity
• gala
• luncheon
• reception
• shindig