Definition of 'welcome'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense welcomes
, present participle welcoming
, past tense, past participle welcomed
3. verb
4. adjective
5. verb
If you say that you welcome certain people or actions, you are inviting and encouraging people to do something, for example to come to a particular place.
We welcome you to join us on a special tour which explores this unique Australian
attraction. [VERB noun]
8. adjective
If you say that someone is welcome to something, you mean that you do not want it yourself because you do not like it and
you are very willing for them to have it.
9. See also welcoming
10.
See make sb welcome
11.
12.
See you're welcome
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of
welcome
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
Word Frequency
welcome in British English
adjective
4.
under no obligation (only in such phrases as you're welcome or he's welcome, as conventional responses to thanks)
sentence substitute
noun
7. See wear out one's welcome
verb (transitive)
9.
to receive or accept, esp gladly
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
welcomely (ˈwelcomely) adverb
welcomeness (ˈwelcomeness)
noun
welcomer (ˈwelcomer)
noun
Word origin
C12: changed (through influence of well1) from Old English wilcuma (agent noun referring to a welcome guest), wilcume (a greeting of welcome), from wil will2 + cuman to comeWord Frequency
welcome in American English
adjective
1.
gladly and cordially received
a welcome guest
3.
freely and willingly permitted or invited
welcome to use the library
noun
4.
an act or expression of welcoming
a hearty (or cold) welcome
interjection
5.
you are welcome here
an expression of cordial greeting verb transitiveWord forms: ˈwelcomed or ˈwelcoming
6.
to greet with pleasure and hospitality
8.
to meet, receive, or acknowledge in a specified way; greet
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
welcomer (ˈwelcomer)
noun
Word Frequency
welcome in American English
(ˈwelkəm) (verb -comed, -coming)
interjection
noun
2.
a kindly greeting or reception, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure
to give someone a warm welcome
3. See wear out one's welcome
transitive verb
4.
to greet the arrival of (a person, guests, etc.) with pleasure or kindly courtesy
6.
to meet, accept, or receive (an action, challenge, person, etc.) in a specified, esp. unfriendly, manner
They welcomed him with hisses and catcalls
adjective
7.
gladly received, as one whose arrival gives pleasure
a welcome visitor
10.
without obligation for the courtesy or favor received (used as a conventional response
to expressions of thanks)
You're quite welcome
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
welcomeness noun
welcomer
noun
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME ‹ Scand; cf. ON velkominn, equiv. to vel well1 + kominn come (ptp.); r. OE wilcuma one who is welcome, equiv. to wil- welcome ( see will2) + cuma comer]Examples of 'welcome' in a sentence
welcome
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins.
We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
Trends of
welcome
View usage for:
Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
In other languages
welcome
British English: welcome
/ˈwɛlkəm/ NOUN
If you give someone a welcome, you greet them in a friendly way when they arrive somewhere.
There would be a fantastic welcome awaiting him back here.
- American English: welcome /ˈwɛlkəm/
- Arabic: تَرْحِيب
- Brazilian Portuguese: boas-vindas
- Chinese: 欢迎
- Croatian: dobrodošlica
- Czech: přivítání
- Danish: velkomst
- Dutch: welkomst
- European Spanish: recibimiento
- Finnish: vastaanotto
- French: bienvenue
- German: Willkommen
- Greek: καλωσόρισμα
- Italian: accoglienza
- Japanese: 歓迎
- Korean: 환영 인사
- Norwegian: velkomst
- Polish: powitanie
- European Portuguese: boas-vindas
- Romanian: primire
- Russian: приветствие
- Latin American Spanish: recibimiento
- Swedish: välkomnande
- Thai: การต้อนรับ
- Turkish: karşılama
- Ukrainian: привітання
- Vietnamese: sự đón tiếp
British English: welcome
/ˈwɛlkəm/ VERB
If you welcome someone, you greet them in a friendly way when they arrive somewhere.
Several people came by to welcome me.
- American English: welcome /ˈwɛlkəm/
- Arabic: يُرَحِّبُ بِ
- Brazilian Portuguese: dar as boas-vindas
- Chinese: 欢迎
- Croatian: dočekati
- Czech: vítat
- Danish: byde velkommen
- Dutch: verwelkomen
- European Spanish: dar la bienvenida
- Finnish: toivottaa tervetulleeksi
- French: accueillir
- German: begrüßen
- Greek: καλωσορίζω
- Italian: accogliere
- Japanese: 歓迎する
- Korean: 환영하다
- Norwegian: ønske velkommen
- Polish: powitać
- European Portuguese: dar as boas-vindas
- Romanian: a întâmpina
- Russian: приветствовать
- Latin American Spanish: dar la bienvenida
- Swedish: välkomna
- Thai: ต้อนรับ
- Turkish: karşılamak
- Ukrainian: вітати
- Vietnamese: tiếp đón
British English: welcome
ADJECTIVE /ˈwɛlkəm/
If you describe something as welcome, you mean that people wanted it and are happy that it has occurred.
This was certainly a welcome change of fortune.
- American English: welcome /ˈwɛlkəm/
- Brazilian Portuguese: bem-vindo
- Chinese: 受欢迎的
- European Spanish: bienvenido
- French: bienvenu
- German: willkommen
- Italian: benvenuto
- Japanese: 喜ばしい
- Korean: 환영받는
- European Portuguese: bem-vindo
- Latin American Spanish: bienvenido
British English: welcome!
/ˈwɛlkəm/ INTERJECTION
You say `Welcome!' when you are greeting someone who has just arrived somewhere.
- American English: welcome! /ˈwɛlkəm/
- Arabic: مَرْحَباً
- Brazilian Portuguese: bem-vindo!
- Chinese: 欢迎光临!
- Croatian: dobrodošli!
- Czech: vítejte!
- Danish: velkommen
- Dutch: welkom!
- European Spanish: ¡Bienvenido!
- Finnish: tervetuloa!
- French: bienvenue !
- German: willkommen!
- Greek: καλωσορίσατε!
- Italian: benvenuto!
- Japanese: ようこそ!
- Korean: 환영! 인사
- Norwegian: velkommen!
- Polish: serdecznie witamy!
- European Portuguese: bem-vindo!
- Romanian: bun venit!
- Russian: добро пожаловать!
- Latin American Spanish: ¡Bienvenido!
- Swedish: välkommen!
- Thai: ยินดีต้อนรับ
- Turkish: hoş geldiniz!
- Ukrainian: ласкаво просимо!
- Vietnamese: hoan nghênh!
Browse alphabetically
welcome
Related terms of
welcome
Source
Definition of welcome from the Collins English Dictionary
Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries.
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
DIY
Drag the correct answer into the box.
wrench
screwdriver
spirit level
stepladder
DIY
Drag the correct answer into the box.
hammer
paint roller
pliers
hacksaw
DIY
Drag the correct answer into the box.
paint roller
chisel
stepladder
pliers
DIY
Drag the correct answer into the box.
pliers
screwdriver
spirit level
hammer
Your score:
Word of the day
bowdlerize
To bowdlerize a book or film means to take parts of it out before publishing it or showing it.
Latest Word Submissions
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
GARDENING
Drag the correct answer into the box.
hoe
watering can
plant pot
weedkiller
GARDENING
Drag the correct answer into the box.
weedkiller
wheelbarrow
watering can
hoe
Your score:
Learning English: Saying goodbye
Learn informal ways to say goodbye in British English - from 'Goodbye' to 'See ya!' with examples and tips for everyday use.
Read more
Scrabble: Spoilt for Choice
Strategize your Scrabble moves based on anagrams on the board, score, vowel placement, and hooks to get the best score you can.
Read more
‘100 Words for Rain’ by Alex Johnson
Discover the allure of weather lore and literary references in "100 Words for Rain" and delve into rain phenomena and cultural anecdotes.
Read more
Learning English: Making a phone call
Ease your nerves with these helpful phrases for English phone calls. From introductions to inquiries, master effective communication.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more