welcome

[wel-kuh m]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR welcome ON THESAURUS.COM

interjection

(a word of kindly greeting, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure): Welcome, stranger!

noun

a kindly greeting or reception, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure: to give someone a warm welcome.

verb (used with object), wel·comed, wel·com·ing.

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 or favor received (used as a conventional response to expressions of thanks): You're quite welcome.

Nearby words

Idioms

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.

Origin of welcome

before 900; Middle English < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse velkominn, equivalent to vel well¹ + kominn come (past participle); replacing Old English wilcuma one who is welcome, equivalent to wil- welcome (see will²) + cuma comer

Related forms

wel·come·ness, nounwel·com·er, nounpre·wel·come, noun, verb (used with object), pre·wel·comed, pre·wel·com·ing.un·wel·come, adjective

un·wel·comed, adjectiveun·wel·com·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for unwelcome

In state after state that once called the president its favorite son, he is finding that his political advocacy is unwelcome.
Even Hawaii Hates Obama Now|David Freedlander|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, Shi described one unwelcome encounter with Zhang.
Yahoo’s Accused Sexual Harasser Asked Women to Wear More Skirts at Work|Olivia Nuzzi|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The unwelcome outsiders surrendered and were taken by the Bateses as POWs.
Welcome to Sealand: a Sovereign Nation|Nina Strochlic|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the time I was processing an unwelcome reality: I was sexually abused by my uncle.
I Lived Dylan Farrow’s Story|Jessica Dawson|February 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When you were starting out, were you ever on the receiving end of any unwelcome advances?
Susan Sarandon On ‘The Last of Robin Hood,’ NYC Mayor's Race, Being Hacked, More|Marlow Stern|September 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Laughingly my companion pulled me from under the chilly and unwelcome covering.
A Lover in Homespun|F. Clifford Smith
Her captain, who bore the singular name A. Greene Crabtree, proved the most unwelcome and rapacious visitor that had yet appeared.
Glimpses of the Past|W. O. Raymond
The unwelcome truth cost him his place, and he betook himself to Bologna, where he publicly taught his science.
A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume III|Henry Charles Lea
Yet you insist on sitting on that bench and annoying me with your 216 unwelcome presence.
Glinda of Oz|L. Frank Baum
The meeting was unwelcome to them both, and both their faces showed it.
Queed|Henry Sydnor Harrison

British Dictionary definitions for unwelcome

unwelcome

adjective

(of persons) not welcome

causing dissatisfaction or displeasure

Derived Formsunwelcomely, adverbunwelcomeness, noun

welcome

adjective

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)

sentence substitute

an expression of cordial greeting, esp to a person whose arrival is desired or pleasing

noun

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

verb (tr)

to greet the arrival of (visitors, guests, etc) cordially or gladly

to receive or accept, esp gladly

Derived Formswelcomely, adverbwelcomeness, nounwelcomer, noun

Word Origin for welcome

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unwelcome

unwelcome

adj.

early 14c., from un- (1) "not" + welcome (adj.). Cf. Middle Dutch onwillecome, German unwillkommen.

welcome

Old English wilcumian, from wilcuma (see welcome (n.)). Related: Welcomed; welcoming.

welcome

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.

Idioms and Phrases with unwelcome

welcome

see warm welcome; wear out one's welcome; you're welcome.

welcome

interjection

noun

verb (used with object), wel·comed, wel·com·ing.

adjective

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of welcome

Examples from the Web for unwelcome

unwelcome

adjective

welcome

adjective

sentence substitute

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for welcome

unwelcome

welcome

welcome

welcome