welcome

1 of 4

verb

wel·​come ˈwel-kəm How to pronounce welcome (audio)
welcomed; welcoming

transitive verb

1
: to greet hospitably and with courtesy or cordiality
2
: to accept with pleasure the occurrence or presence of
welcomes danger
welcomer noun

welcome

2 of 4

interjection

used to express a greeting to a guest or newcomer upon arrival

welcome

3 of 4

adjective

1
: received gladly into one's presence or companionship
was always welcome in their home
2
: giving pleasure : received with gladness or delight especially in response to a need
a welcome relief
3
: willingly permitted or admitted
he was welcome to come and goW. M. Thackeray
4
used in the phrase "You're welcome" as a reply to an expression of thanks
welcomely adverb
welcomeness noun

welcome

4 of 4

noun

1
: a greeting or reception usually upon arrival
a warm welcome
2
: the state of being welcome
overstayed their welcome

Example Sentences

Verb She welcomed the students into her home. We welcome you to the show. He's a bright student who welcomes a challenge. Adjective That will be a welcome change. He was a welcome sight. Noun He was given a hero's welcome when he returned home after winning the race. offered a warm welcome to the stranger See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
To welcome them, the Wales couple hosted the Norwegian royals at Windsor Castle. Sophie Dweck, Town & Country, 2 Mar. 2023 Then welcome these breakfast nachos in your morning. Paul Kita, Men's Health, 28 Feb. 2023 In this fight against Al Shabab, most Somalis welcome the small American military presence, which trains the Danab, or Lightning, as Somali special forces units are known. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2023 Intelligence Matters / Derek Chollet Producer: Olivia Gazis Lightly edited for clarity MICHAEL MORELL: Derek, welcome back to Intelligence Matters. CBS News, 22 Feb. 2023 For those of us who value not only literature but the idiosyncratic legacy of academic literary studies, Guillory does not bring good or welcome news. Evan Kindley, The New York Review of Books, 16 Feb. 2023 Starter Bakery is preparing to welcome guests to its first cafe and bakery space in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood on Saturday, March 4. Mario Cortez, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Feb. 2023 On this episode: This week, the guys welcome back Free Press Red Wings beat writer Helene St. James to discuss the problematic power play performance and scoring droughts of the team. Kirkland Crawford, Detroit Free Press, 2 Feb. 2023 Göteborg Film Festival, running from Jan. 27-Feb. 5, will welcome back some familiar faces during its 46th edition. Marta Balaga, Variety, 27 Jan. 2023
Adjective
Volunteers are always welcome to participate in Pack Outs at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, where boxes are packed with nutritious food for students and their families. Laura Groch Feb. 12, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2023 Includes welcome cocktail, appetizers, 3-course dinner paired with bourbon and wine. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 12 Feb. 2023 The new Betfred Sportsbook welcome bonus lasts until April 15, 2023. Chris Ilenstine, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2023 Live Aid is a welcome break from the tensions of the tour. Edward Kiersh, SPIN, 11 Feb. 2023 The Showtime pickup should come as a welcome surprise to fans, who were left hanging when season 1 ended on a massive cliffhanger in which Michael and Colin (Watkins) reconnected at a wedding. Lauren Huff, EW.com, 11 Feb. 2023 Chez Panisse, Berkeley, CA’s iconic farm-to-table restaurant, would be a welcome locale for a luxe evening. Harper's BAZAAR, 10 Feb. 2023 Function is far and away the priority here, but some swerve is also welcome in the box. Isaiah Freeman-schub, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2023 Dib’s family, Enter the Florpus is a very welcome return for a cult classic. WIRED, 10 Feb. 2023
Noun
Your arrival may be more subtle, but the welcome and the wine will be the same. Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2023 The welcome was provided by Reverend Andrew Nunn, the dean of Southwark. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2023 The locker room celebration, the joyous welcome home, the media appearances and the parade — all of those moments blurred together, too. The Courier-Journal, 16 Feb. 2023 Sponsors are, and should be, given tremendous latitude in deciding how their exemptions are used, and the Phoenix Open's are the customary mix of the welcome, the defensible and the bewildering. Eamon Lynch, The Arizona Republic, 8 Feb. 2023 But there’s also the very welcome of new wallpaper to celebrate Black History Month. David Phelan, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2023 The exciting welcome offer new users can look forward to will include: $50 bonus bet upon first deposit. Catena Media, oregonlive, 21 Jan. 2023 The Golden Nugget NJ offers a huge variety of promotions like the welcome offer deposit bonus where the casino will match your first deposit up to $1,000 and give players 200 free spins on 88 Fortunes Megaways. Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 17 Dec. 2022 A few days later, a crowd of 100,000 gave him a hero’s welcome at Union Square beneath Henry Kirke Brown’s already beloved bronze equestrian statue of George Washington. Harold Holzer, WSJ, 17 Feb. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'welcome.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English welcumian, wylcumian, from wilcuma, noun

Interjection

Middle English, alteration of wilcume, from Old English, from wilcuma desirable guest (akin to Old High German willicomo desirable guest); akin to Old English willa, will desire, cuman to come — more at will, come

First Known Use

Verb

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

Interjection

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of welcome was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near welcome

Cite this Entry

“Welcome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/welcome. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

welcome

1 of 4 interjection
wel·​come ˈwel-kəm How to pronounce welcome (audio)
used to greet a guest or newcomer upon arrival

welcome

2 of 4 verb
welcomed; welcoming
1
: to greet in a warm and friendly manner
2
: to receive or accept with pleasure
welcomes a challenge
welcomer noun

welcome

3 of 4 adjective
1
: received gladly
a welcome visitor
2
: giving pleasure : pleasing
welcome news
3
: willingly permitted to do, have, or enjoy something
anyone is welcome to use the pool
4
used in the phrase "You're welcome" as a reply to an expression of thanks

welcome

4 of 4 noun
: a friendly greeting or reception

More from Merriam-Webster on welcome

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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