welcome
Americaninterjection
noun
-
welcomes
plural
verb (used with object)
-
welcomes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
welcomed,
past participle, past
-
welcoming
present participle
-
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, favor, or service received (used as a conventional response to expressions of thanks): He thanked me, and I told him he was welcome.
You're quite welcome; I'm glad you like the gift.
He thanked me, and I told him he was welcome.
idioms
adjective
-
gladly and cordially received or admitted
a welcome guest
-
bringing pleasure or gratitude
a welcome gift
-
freely permitted or invited
you are welcome to call
-
under no obligation (only in such phrases as you're welcome or he's welcome , as conventional responses to thanks)
noun
-
the act of greeting or receiving a person or thing; reception
the new theory had a cool welcome
-
to come more often or stay longer than is acceptable or pleasing
verb
-
to greet the arrival of (visitors, guests, etc) cordially or gladly
-
to receive or accept, esp gladly
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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prewelcomenoun
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welcomenessnoun
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welcomernoun
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unwelcomeadjective
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unwelcomedadjective
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unwelcomingadjective
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welcomelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
welcomesimple
-
welcomessimple
-
have welcomedperfect
-
has welcomedperfect
-
am welcomingprogressive
-
are welcomingprogressive
-
is welcomingprogressive
-
have been welcomingperfect progressive
-
has been welcomingperfect progressive
Past
-
welcomedsimple
-
had welcomedperfect
-
was welcomingprogressive
-
were welcomingprogressive
-
had been welcomingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of welcome
First recorded before 900; Middle English, from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse velkominn, equivalent to vel well 1 + kominn come (past participle); replacing Old English wilcuma “one who is welcome,” equivalent to wil- welcome ( see will 2) + cuma “comer”
Explanation
A welcome is a greeting that usually comes when you first arrive. Although you aren't fond of Aunt Martha, you always manage to give her a warm welcome when she comes to visit. When you accept someone into your home courteously, especially upon arrival, you welcome them. When you visit your grandparents, they welcome you with open arms and a plate of homemade cookies. They might even shout, "Welcome!" when you walk in the door. Welcome also means to gladly accept. The president of the French club will welcome your fundraising idea, especially if it involves baked goods.
Vocabulary lists containing welcome
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.
See Examples For:
"Good evening and welcome to tonight's campaign speeches by candidates for Duma Electoral District 158," said the anchor on state TV.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
It’s come this way before, and it overstayed its welcome.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
Troops in flashy uniforms have been rehearsing on the White House driveway this week ahead of the welcome ceremony.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
For people on both sides of the aisle, reduced wait times should be welcome.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Shivering with eagerness, the cub wagged his tail and yipped a noisy welcome.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Surge, Slate’s politics newsletter that welcomes Mitch McConnell back to the Senate.
From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2026
“At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it’s fitting that our favorite daughter, Dolly Parton, is honored for her extraordinary life and legacy,” Lee said.
From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026
His teenage crush, afflicted by illness, welcomes it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
The Parades Commission said it "welcomes scrutiny and accountability".
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
The breeze welcomes them, skidding over the surface of my skin, raising hair after hair, tingling, awakening every exposed inch of me.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
Greenland’s government has also welcomed the security agreement while emphasizing that sovereignty remains intact.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
Investors have welcomed the Muse rollout: Meta’s stock is up about 10% since its launch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Some of the exiles arrested by U.S. agents in recent months had been welcomed with open arms by the U.S. government just three years ago under a novel deal negotiated by the State Department.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
And while deepening ties with Europe would be welcomed by many Canadians, there is still a sense that the country's relationship with the US - however strained - must not crumble.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
The president of the club, Dr. Edward Lasker, welcomed everyone, thanked them for coming, and then began a litany of Bobby’s many accomplishments.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
“While we disagree with the court’s ruling, UC will always seek to foster a welcoming environment that protects both freedom of expression and the fundamental rights of all members of our community,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
And please, we are still welcoming feedback on the changes around this newsletter.
From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2026
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he looks "forward to welcoming President Trump to Ireland"
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
“We look forward to welcoming Paul back when he has fully recovered,” Murphy said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Vermont’s mountains are comparatively soft and rolling, and its profusion of dairy farms gives it a more welcoming and inhabited feel.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
