welcome

[ wel-kuh m ]

/ ˈwɛl kəm /

interjection

(a word of kindly greeting, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure): Welcome, stranger!

noun

a kindly greeting or reception, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure: to give someone a warm welcome.

verb (used with object), wel·comed, wel·com·ing.

to greet the arrival of (a person, guests, etc.) with pleasure or kindly courtesy.

to receive or accept with pleasure; regard as pleasant or good: to welcome a change.

to meet, accept, or receive (an action, challenge, person, etc.) in a specified, especially unfriendly, manner: They welcomed him with hisses and catcalls.

adjective

gladly received, as one whose arrival gives pleasure: a welcome visitor.

agreeable, as something arriving, occurring, or experienced: a welcome rest.

given full right by the cordial consent of others: She is welcome to try it.

without obligation for the courtesy or favor received (used as a conventional response to expressions of thanks): You're quite welcome.

Idioms for welcome

wear out one's welcome, to make one's visits so frequent or of such long duration that they become offensive: Your cousins have long since worn out their welcome.

Origin of welcome

before 900; Middle English < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse velkominn, equivalent to vel well¹ + kominn come (past participle); replacing Old English wilcuma one who is welcome, equivalent to wil- welcome (see will²) + cuma comer

OTHER WORDS FROM welcome

wel·come·ness, noun wel·com·er, noun pre·wel·come, noun, verb (used with object), pre·wel·comed, pre·wel·com·ing. un·wel·come, adjective

un·wel·comed, adjective un·wel·com·ing, adjective

Words nearby welcome

weizsäcker, wejack, weka, welch, welchman, welcome, welcome mat, welcome to, be, welcome wagon, weld, welded tuff

British Dictionary definitions for wear out one's welcome

welcome

/ (ˈwɛlkəm) /

adjective

gladly and cordially received or admitted a welcome guest

bringing pleasure or gratitude a welcome gift

freely permitted or invited you are welcome to call

under no obligation (only in such phrases as you're welcome or he's welcome, as conventional responses to thanks)

sentence substitute

an expression of cordial greeting, esp to a person whose arrival is desired or pleasing

noun

the act of greeting or receiving a person or thing; reception the new theory had a cool welcome

wear out one's welcome to come more often or stay longer than is acceptable or pleasing

verb (tr)

to greet the arrival of (visitors, guests, etc) cordially or gladly

to receive or accept, esp gladly

Derived forms of welcome

welcomely, adverb welcomeness, noun welcomer, noun

Word Origin for welcome

C12: changed (through influence of well 1) from Old English wilcuma (agent noun referring to a welcome guest), wilcume (a greeting of welcome), from wil will ² + cuman to come

Idioms and Phrases with wear out one's welcome (1 of 2)

wear out one's welcome

Visit for longer than one's host wants, as in She wanted to stay another few days but feared she would wear out her welcome. This expression uses wear out in the sense of “exhaust” or “use up.” [Mid-1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with wear out one's welcome (2 of 2)

welcome

see warm welcome; wear out one's welcome; you're welcome.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

welcome

interjection

noun

verb (used with object), wel·comed, wel·com·ing.

adjective

Idioms for welcome

Origin of welcome

OTHER WORDS FROM welcome

Words nearby welcome

British Dictionary definitions for wear out one's welcome

adjective

sentence substitute

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of welcome

Word Origin for welcome

Idioms and Phrases with wear out one's welcome (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with wear out one's welcome (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

welcome

interjection

noun

verb (used with object), wel·comed, wel·com·ing.

adjective

Idioms for welcome

Origin of welcome

OTHER WORDS FROM welcome

Words nearby welcome

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for wear out one's welcome

adjective

sentence substitute

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of welcome

Word Origin for welcome

Idioms and Phrases with wear out one's welcome (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with wear out one's welcome (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for wear out one's welcome