homecoming

noun

home·​com·​ing ˈhōm-ˌkə-miŋ 

1

: a return home

a soldier's homecoming

2

: the return of a group of people usually on a special occasion to a place formerly frequented or regarded as home

especially : an annual celebration for alumni at a high school, college, or university

—often used before another noun

a homecoming rally

homecoming weekend

the annual homecoming game/dance

was elected the homecoming queen

Examples of homecoming in a Sentence

A large crowd gathered at the airport for the soldiers' homecoming.

Recent Examples on the Web

This past weekend, Delaware State beat North Carolina Central on the road for the first time since 1977, spoiling homecoming weekend. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025

Even with all the hate he's fielded over the years, Willmore still feels proud of his place in Missouri history as the state's first male homecoming queen. —Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025

The violence continued just minutes later, when three men, one woman and a teenage boy were shot just steps from Howard University’s campus, as the school was hosting a homecoming event. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025

In many ways, returning to speculative storytelling has felt like a homecoming to Gilligan, even as swerving away from crime presents a chance to expand his legacy. —Judy Berman, Time, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for homecoming

• overcoming
• unbecoming
• becoming
• forthcoming
• incoming
• oncoming
• shortcoming
• succumbing
• upcoming
• coming
• cumming
• drumming

Kids Definition

homecoming

noun

home·​com·​ing ˈhōm-ˌkəm-ing 

1

: a return home

2

a

: the return of a group of people usually on a special occasion to a place formerly frequented

b

: a yearly celebration for alumni at a school