# welcome

Pronunciation: say "WEL-kuhm" /ˈwɛl.kəm/

## Verb

1. To greet someone on their arrival, or affirm that arrival, especially by saying “Welcome!”.
   - Simple: To greet someone in a friendly way when they arrive.
   - _Staff welcome guests in the lobby with a cold drink._
   - _The mayor welcomed the delegates as they stepped off the plane._
2. To accept or receive something willingly or gladly, regarding it as pleasing or desirable.
   - Simple: To accept something gladly because you are happy to have it.
   - _Farmers welcome the rain after a dry summer._
   - _He welcomed the news of her promotion with obvious delight._

## Interjection

3. Used as a friendly greeting to someone arriving at a place or joining a group.
   - Simple: Said in a friendly way to greet someone who has just arrived.
   - _Welcome aboard. Please find your seats and buckle up._
   - _Welcome to the conference; registration is just to your left._
9. Short for you're welcome: a reply to someone who has just thanked you. Informal, especially in the Southern US. *(dialectal, Southern US)* — Ellipsis of you're welcome..
   - Simple: Short for you're welcome: a casual reply when someone thanks you. Used mainly in the Southern US.
   - _“Thanks for covering my shift.” “Welcome.”_
   - _“Thank you so much!” “Welcome,” she said, waving him off._

## Adjective

4. Received with gladness; whose arrival brings joy, and willingly admitted to a home, gathering, or company.
   - Simple: Wanted as a guest and gladly let in when you arrive.
   - _Visitors are welcome at the gallery every afternoon._
   - _She made the new neighbors feel welcome from their first day on the street._
5. Producing gladness or relief; pleasing to receive, see, or experience.
   - Simple: Nice to have, see, or hear because it makes you glad.
   - _The rain was a welcome relief after weeks of drought._
   - _His calm voice was welcome in a room full of shouting._
6. Freely allowed or invited to have, use, or enjoy something, or to do something; used with 'to'.
   - Simple: Allowed or invited to take or use something, or to do something, used with 'to'.
   - _You're welcome to the leftovers in the fridge._
   - _Members are welcome to bring one guest to each event._

## Noun

7. An instance or manner of greeting someone on arrival, whether in words or in a kind or hospitable reception.
   - Simple: The way you greet someone when they arrive, with friendly words or a kind reception.
   - _The villagers offered the volunteers a generous welcome._
   - _Her warm welcome put the nervous interns at ease right away._
8. The state of being gladly received as a guest, especially as something that can be used up by staying too long.
   - Simple: Being wanted as a guest, something you can lose if you stay too long.
   - _Three days into the visit, he sensed he was wearing out his welcome._
   - _She left the party early, careful not to overstay her welcome._

## Origin

From Middle English welcome, from Old English wilcuma ("a wished-for guest"), from Proto-Germanic *wiljakwemô ("a wished-for arrival or guest"), equivalent to will ("desire") plus come ("arrival"). The wil- part was later changed to wel-, likely under influence from the adverb well once the "guest" sense of the second part was no longer understood. It is cognate with Dutch welkom, German willkommen, and Swedish välkommen.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/welcome (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).