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greet

GREET/ɡɹiːt/

Formsgreets, greeting, greeted

8 meanings of greet

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive
    To say hello to someone in a friendly way, in person or in writing.

    Like waving and saying hi when a friend comes to visit.

    She greeted her guests at the door with a warm smile.

    I always greet my neighbors when I see them.

    Similarhail

    Note
  2. 2
    verbfigurativelytransitive
    To be the first thing that someone sees, hears, or smells in a place.

    Like opening the oven and instantly smelling fresh bread.

    A wall of heat greeted us as we stepped off the plane.

    Strange sights greet travelers who arrive at the market before dawn.

    Similarmeet, welcome, face, confront

    Note
  3. 3
    verbtransitive
    To finally reach or arrive at a place.

    The ship greeted the harbor just as the sun rose.

    Tired hikers greet the cabin after a long day on the trail.

    Similarreach, meet

  4. 4
    verbtransitive
    To go up to someone and speak to them directly.

    A stranger greeted him on the street and asked for directions.

    Reporters greet the senator with questions every morning.

    Similaraccost, address, hail

  5. 5
    verbdialectalNorthern EnglandScotlandintransitive
    To cry or shed tears, often from sadness.

    Like crying when something hurts your feelings.

    The child began to greet when she lost her favorite toy.

    He greeted bitterly when he heard the sad news.

    Similarcry, weep, wail

    Oppositelaugh

    Note
  6. 6
    adjective
    Very large or great in size, amount, or importance.

    There was a greet crowd at the market that day.

    They built a greet wall around the old town.

    Similarhuge, big, large

    Oppositesmall, little

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 7
    verbarchaicintransitive
    To meet and say hello to each other.

    Like two people smiling and waving when they pass each other.

    The two travelers greeted warmly when they met on the road.

    There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, And sleep in peace.
    c. 1588, William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”Here, greet means meet and welcome each other.
    Note
  2. 8
    nounobsoleteuncountable
    Loud crying and sadness over a death or loss.
    Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–4, 7

From Old English grētan, through Middle English greten.

Meaning 6

From Middle English greet or grete, meaning "great".

Meanings 5, 8

A mix of two Old English verbs meaning "to weep". It may also have been strengthened in northern England and Scotland by Old Norse gráta, "to cry".