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

One of the more memorable games of McCarthy’s five-season tenure in Dallas was his homecoming in 2024 against the Steelers. —Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 24 Jan. 2026

After homecomings from Gunther in Dusseldorf, Finn Balor in Belfast and now Sami Zayn in Montreal, tonight’s SmackDown will feel like a pep rally. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Despite Gibson’s history in Miami, the artist has rarely exhibited in his hometown, making the homecoming show something of a special occasion for KDR Gallery and its owner Katia David Rosenthal. —Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026

The 2027-28 matchup will be a homecoming for Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph, who played for coach Geno Auriemma at UConn from 1996-2001. —Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2026

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