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:
He said "anyone who says stuff like that" was "not welcome".
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
While the other judges sometimes treat dessert as something illicit, Lawson’s unabashed enthusiasm for baked goods is a welcome change.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
On this score, it’s a welcome development if tech investors are acting in part on a growing conviction that Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh intends to pour less rum into the punchbowl.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
I would love for you to come sit in my audience and feel welcome to the party.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
“I realize that you may destroy me, and if that is my fate, I welcome it. Come now, let us see if the vaunted reputation of the djinn is well deserved!”
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
Nonetheless, they said Cook "welcomes the opportunity to present the facts so she can clear her name and demonstrate there is no legal basis to fire her."
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
He adds that the central point of conflict is Charles “wishes it was a few hundred years ago,” whereas Liz tries to be with the times, progressive and welcomes change.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
About 70 people have already registered and current GB player Conway welcomes the competition.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Donald Trump welcomes Xi Jinping to the White House for a state dinner on Thursday, and he promises to ask China’s leader to release Jimmy Lai from his Hong Kong prison cell.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
Three hours later, a pink archway welcomes him to Matehuala.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
Analysts have broadly welcomed the plan but say it will take time to play out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
ITV welcomed the letter and said the deal would help it "compete with global streaming platforms, benefiting viewers, advertisers and the UK creative industries".
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
The “Flight Attendant” star on Wednesday posted on Instagram that she and the Emmy-winning “Task” actor recently welcomed their second daughter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
Residents welcomed the decision, although they said the pollution had been even worse earlier in the week.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Rooster Jim welcomed Albert, June, and Rose back to the fold.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
Starbucks shares are still up 10.7% so far this year, as the coffee chain tries to revive sales with new drinks and more welcoming coffee shops.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
Anwar's about-face welcoming of Min Aung Hlaing and returning back migrants is partially due to a shift in domestic politics, experts say.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
The next day, it was a golf tournament in Illinois and another welcoming crowd.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
"The documentary has introduced the competition, Carrbridge, and the wonderful world of porridge to a whole new audience, and we're really looking forward to welcoming this year's competitors to the village," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Elizebeth also knew that the Navy was not a welcoming workplace for women.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
