greet

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈgrēt 

greeted; greeting; greets

transitive verb

1

: to address with expression of kind wishes upon meeting or arrival

greeted guests at the door

2

a

: to meet or react to in a specified manner

greeted him with boos

b

: to occur as a response to

apathy greeted the plan

3

: to be seen or experienced by

a chaotic scene greeted them

were greeted by snow upon arrival at the airport

greeter noun

greet

2 of 3

verb (2)

grat ˈgrat  ; grutten ˈgrə-tᵊn 

intransitive verb

Scotland

: weep, lament

greeter

3 of 3

noun

greet·​er

ˈgrētə(r), 

-ētə-

plural -s

: one that greets: such as

a

: a person who welcomes especially on behalf of another

b

: one that weeps

Examples of greet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Ray worked his way out of the jam, then greeted Lee with a hug in the dugout. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 June 2026

In Colombo, guests were warmly greeted by our family and local guides, setting the tone for cultural connection consistent throughout the journey. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 June 2026

At the airport, the emperor and empress were greeted by Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth, who was making her debut in this type of institutional duty typical of her future role as queen. — Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 24 June 2026

Waiting to greet them was executive chef Liv Hurst. — Kaitlyn Harvey, AJC.com, 24 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1) and Noun

Middle English greten, from Old English grētan; akin to Old English grǣtan to weep

Verb (2)

Middle English greten, from Old English grǣtan; akin to Old Norse grāta to weep

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing greet

• meet and greet

Rhymes for greet

• beat
• beet
• bleat
• cheat
• cleat
• creat
• deet
• eat
• feat
• feet
• fleet
• heat

Kids Definition

greet

verb

ˈgrēt

1

: to address upon arrival or meeting with expressions of kind wishes

greeted guests at the door

2

: to meet or react to in a specified manner

greeted with cheers

3

: to appear or present itself to

a surprising sight greeted her eyes

greeter noun