homecoming

American  

[hohm-kuhm-ing] / ˈhoʊmˌkʌm ɪŋ /

noun

1. a return to one's home; arrival at home.

2. an annual event held by a college, university, or high school for visiting alumni.

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homecoming British  

/ ˈhəʊmˌkʌmɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of coming home

2. an annual celebration held by a university, college, or school, for former students

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Other Word Forms

• homecomer noun

Etymology

Origin of homecoming

First recorded in 1325–75; 1930–35 homecoming for def. 2; Middle English homcomyng; replacing Middle English hamcume, Old English hāmcyme, from hām home + cyme “arrival”; come, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

BTS’ comeback could be likened to a classical Greek hero’s homecoming.

From Salon

But it is also a homecoming of sorts for the Oscars.

From BBC

Its stitched-together scenes—frat pledge party, dining hall food fight, toga party, horse in Dean Wormer’s office, homecoming parade—were individually hilarious and held together only by the individual characters.

From The Wall Street Journal

When an ancient bronze statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius landed back on Turkish soil after decades abroad, it was more than a symbolic homecoming.

From Barron's

She and her girls had been there all morning, sweeping, washing windows, airing sheets for my homecoming.

From Literature

Related Words

• advent
• appearance
• influx
• landing
• meeting
• return