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:
“We welcome a federal framework that sets consistent safety requirements for frontier AI,” Altman said in a post on X. “No amount of American competitive pressure should justify recklessness.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
"I've always felt welcome here," said Ben Kerr, from Bradford, Ontario.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
It’s come this way before, and it overstayed its welcome.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
At the same time his video appeared on social media, dozens of protesters were gathering outside the home of Szor's parents in central Israel, shouting "You're not welcome here!"
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
When I finally get to be alone with Grace, it’s a welcome break from the drama.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
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
Naturally, it applies to the New York Philharmonic, which this month welcomes Mr. Dudamel, currently signed for five seasons, as its 27th music director.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 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
The Parades Commission said it "welcomes scrutiny and accountability".
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
After she welcomes me officially, she walks me to one of the classrooms.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
With the deadline for mailing out millions of California ballots nearing, Los Angeles County’s top election official welcomed the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
They regularly meet up in Waters’s hometown of Baltimore and at Mosswood Meltdown, a music festival he’s hosted in Oakland, Calif. Six-time camper Kiichiro Yanashita has even welcomed friends to his home in Tokyo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
Greenland’s government has also welcomed the security agreement while emphasizing that sovereignty remains intact.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
Sister Anna Maria Doolan, safeguarding lead for the Sisters of Nazareth, said the order welcomed and supported the government's apology for forced adoptions.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
As a young boy, Leonardo is welcomed into Ser Piero’s household and raised, among his many legitimate siblings, by his grandparents.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
She described it as a "warm and welcoming space" and said demand had continued to grow since it opened.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
“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
The U.S. has provided Jews with the most welcoming home, apart from Israel, that they have known through their long diaspora.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
American spy John Champe swims to a welcoming British patrol boat after out-running pursuing Americans, who think he is a deserter.
From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen
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.
