welcome
[wel-kuh m]
- (a word of kindly greeting, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure): Welcome, stranger!
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- a kindly greeting or reception, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure: to give someone a warm welcome.
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- 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.
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- 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 or favor received (used as a conventional response to expressions of thanks): You're quite welcome.
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- wear out one's welcome, to make one's visits so frequent or of such long duration that they become offensive: Your cousins have long since worn out their welcome.
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Origin of welcome
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
disagreeable, distasteful, uninvited, objectionable, unacceptable, unpleasant, unwanted, undesirable, obnoxious, ill-favored, inadmissible, lousy, rejected, repellent, thankless, unasked, unpopular, unsought, displeasing, exceptionableExamples from the Web for unwelcome
Contemporary Examples
In state after state that once called the president its favorite son, he is finding that his political advocacy is unwelcome.
In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, Shi described one unwelcome encounter with Zhang.
The unwelcome outsiders surrendered and were taken by the Bateses as POWs.
At the time I was processing an unwelcome reality: I was sexually abused by my uncle.
But he was soon pleasantly surprised by what he found: gays were not as unwelcome and under the gun as he had imagined.
Historical Examples
She had left these two boys, unwelcome appendages in his sight.
The Armourer's PrenticesCharlotte M. Yonge
This was the most unwelcome intelligence he could have received.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
The task now imposed upon him was a most distasteful and unwelcome one.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
With the chill of unwelcome still upon them the officers said little.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
And again, the recollection of the signal-whistle heard by Molly was unwelcome.
The Slave Of The LampHenry Seton Merriman
unwelcome
- (of persons) not welcome
- causing dissatisfaction or displeasure
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welcome
- gladly and cordially received or admitteda welcome guest
- bringing pleasure or gratitudea welcome gift
- freely permitted or invitedyou are welcome to call
- under no obligation (only in such phrases as you're welcome or he's welcome, as conventional responses to thanks)
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- an expression of cordial greeting, esp to a person whose arrival is desired or pleasing
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- the act of greeting or receiving a person or thing; receptionthe new theory had a cool welcome
- wear out one's welcome to come more often or stay longer than is acceptable or pleasing
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- to greet the arrival of (visitors, guests, etc) cordially or gladly
- to receive or accept, esp gladly
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Word Origin
C12: changed (through influence of well 1) from Old English wilcuma (agent noun referring to a welcome guest), wilcume (a greeting of welcome), from wil will ² + cuman to come
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for unwelcome
welcome
v.
Old English wilcumian, from wilcuma (see welcome (n.)). Related: Welcomed; welcoming.
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welcome
n.
Old English wilcuma, exclamation of kindly greeting, from earlier wilcuma (n.) "welcome guest," literally "one whose coming is in accord with another's will," from willa "pleasure, desire, choice" (see will (v.)) + cuma "guest," related to cuman (see come). Cf. Old High German willicomo, Middle Dutch wellecome. Meaning "entertainment or public reception as a greeting" is recorded from 1530. You're welcome as a formulaic response to thank you is attested from 1907. Welcome mat first recorded 1951; welcome wagon is attested from 1961.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with unwelcome
welcome
see warm welcome; wear out one's welcome; you're welcome.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.