DictionaryAI

guest

GEST/ɡɛst/

Pluralguests

Verbguests, guesting, guested

8 meanings of guest

Practice

  1. 1
    invited friendnouncountable
    Someone you invite to stay at your home or come to a party.

    Like a friend you ask to come and stay at your house.

    We had a guest staying in the spare room all weekend.

    Each guest brought a small gift to the party.

    UsageBe my guest means please go ahead.

    Similarvisitor, caller

    Oppositehost

  2. 2
    special visitornouncountable
    A person invited to take part in a show, or to visit a place like a school.

    The radio show had a special guest this morning.

    Our school invited a guest to talk about space travel.

    UsageSomeone is a guest on a show; you often hear special guest.

    Oppositehost

    Note
  3. 3
    hotel customernouncountable
    Someone who stays at a hotel and pays for a room.

    The hotel guest asked for extra towels.

    Every guest gets a free breakfast at this inn.

    Similarpatron, customer, visitor, client

  4. 4
    verbintransitive
    To take part as an invited guest, such as on a TV show or with another band.

    She will guest on the morning show next week.

    A famous singer guested on the program last night.

    UsageSay someone guests on a show.

    Similarappear, feature

    Note
  5. 5
    temporary usernouncountable
    A person who can use a computer or website for a short time without their own account.

    Like trying a sample at a store without buying anything: you get to use it for a little while.

    You can log in as a guest to try the app.

    The library computer lets a guest browse for thirty minutes.

    UsageYou can log in as a guest.

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 6
    entertain at homeverbobsoletetransitive
    To welcome and take care of someone as a visitor in your home.
    Two Angels sent Two Heav'nly Scowts the Lord to Sodom sent ; downe , received and guested
    1608, [Guillaume de Salluste] Du Bartas, Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and WorkesHere, guested means welcomed and cared for as visitors.
    Note
  2. 7
    noun
    An operating system or pretend computer that runs inside a real computer, called the host, as if it had its own machine.
  3. 8
    noun
    An animal or insect that lives in another kind of animal's nest or burrow, usually without harming it.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of guest apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old Norse gestr, which mixed with the Old English word ġiest. Both came from an old Germanic word meaning "guest," and it is related to German Gast and Dutch gast.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts