Meanings
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1
interj
Said to greet someone in a friendly way when they arrive.
Welcome to our home! Please come in.
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2
verb
To greet someone in a friendly way when they arrive.
They welcomed us warmly at the door.
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3
verb
To be glad to accept or receive something.
I welcome your suggestions for improving the plan.
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4
adj
Pleasing and gladly received.
After the long walk, a hot meal was a welcome relief.
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5
noun
The way someone is greeted when they arrive.
The proposal got a warm welcome from everyone.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English welcome, wolcume, wulcume, wilcume, from Old English wilcuma (“a wished-for guest”; compare also wilcume (“welcome!”, interjection)), from Proto-West Germanic *willjakwemō, from Proto-Germanic *wiljakwemô (“a wished-for arrival or guest”), possibly from *wiljakwemaną (“to be welcome”), equivalent to will (“desire”) + come (“comer, arrival”). The component wil- was replaced by wel- when the sense “guest” of the second component was no longer understood, likely under influence from the adverb well. Cognates Cognate with Scots walcome, Yola welcome, welkome, North Frisian welk…