welcome
Americaninterjection
noun
-
welcomes
plural
verb (used with object)
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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
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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, 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
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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
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welcomesimple
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welcomessimple
-
have welcomedperfect
-
has welcomedperfect
-
am welcomingprogressive
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are welcomingprogressive
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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 can’t wait to welcome our fans from across Australia and beyond for a truly world-class celebration of sport and entertainment.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Lise Kaae, chief executive of Heartland, which has a majority stake in SaxaVord Spaceport through its investment arm Wild Ventures, said: "We are very pleased to welcome the UK government as an investor and partner."
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
She attended Monday's demonstration with her son and dog, advocating for "an open society where everyone feels welcome and understood".
From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026
If that seems like an impossible contradiction, welcome to the mid-2020s, where reality seems increasingly like dystopian science fiction mixed with an especially opaque John le Carré spy thriller.
From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026
It was at the end of the narrow, low-ceilinged hallway and had a rag-rug welcome mat woven from the same fabrics as Mrs. Clarke’s trademark floral print dresses.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
His teenage crush, afflicted by illness, welcomes it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
These videos depict a fun-loving land that welcomes foreigners and embraces friends at 250 years old despite all the advertised assaults on its social fabric.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Saudi crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday for a two-day visit set to range from esports to the war in the Middle East.
From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026
"The OFC Executive Committee welcomes Fifa's decision to withdraw the FFE proposal and its commitment to review the issues surrounding the project," the statement said.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
“Your Grace. Castle Black welcomes you and yours.”
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Cheaper Mexican workers had been welcomed during World War I, and were still coming north more casually back then, even as a U.S. labor group was beginning to agitate for organizing American migrant farm workers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Douglas City Council said it "welcomed" the move, recognising the headland's "significant historical, architectural and cultural importance".
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
On Sunday, he said the party welcomed hardworking foreigners who came to support the people of Saxony-Anhalt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Now, Masaya has welcomed a daughter named Lagertha.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026
In such desperate times, you’d think that anyone who volunteered to fight for the Red Army would be welcomed.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
“We look forward to welcoming Paul back when he has fully recovered,” Murphy said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
For a low-key afternoon or evening, I like Canni, a cafe, bar and third space that’s especially welcoming if drinking isn’t your thing.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
Since welcoming their child, the actors have maintained her privacy by not sharing her name or posting any images of her face online, while their home has become even more of a special sanctuary.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
"The PGA Tour believes in golf's ability to bring people together and create a welcoming environment for all," a PGA Tour spokesperson said in reaction to the Good Good advert.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
Perhaps that soft crackle that he’d so often heard was actually a burst of applause, a triumphant greeting from others in that realm welcoming a new soul.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
