welcomed

1. 1
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of welcome.

   Local farmers welcomed the rain after weeks of drought.

   The reforms were welcomed by teachers throughout the region.

   Note

   One spelling does two jobs here. It is the simple past (they welcomed us) and also the participle after have or be (we had been welcomed). It carries both meanings of the verb: greeting someone's arrival, and gladly accepting something, as in welcomed the news. In the passive it shades toward the warm-reception adjective. Once a degree word appears, as in very welcomed, the adjective has taken over.

2. 2
   adjective

   Having been received with warmth and made to feel valued upon arrival.

   Feeling welcomed, the new employee quickly settled into her role.

   The warmly welcomed delegates spent the evening at a lively reception.

   Similarreceived, accepted, wanted, valued

   Oppositeunwanted

   Note

   A participle that has settled into a gradable adjective. People can feel so welcomed, more welcomed or most welcomed, and the comparison uses more and most rather than -er and -est. It sits most naturally after feel. The plain adjective welcome describes someone whose arrival is wanted; welcomed describes someone who has actually been received. A welcome guest may still be on the doorstep, but a welcomed one is already inside.

Showing meanings only. Show all 2