welcome
welcome
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling:
/ˈwɛlkəm/ (General American, Received Pronunciation)
wel - /wɛl/ (as in "well")
come - /kəm/ (as in "some," the 'o' is a schwa sound)
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: welcome
Plural: welcomes
Verb:
Base form: welcome
Third person singular present: welcomes
Present participle: welcoming
Past tense: welcomed
Past participle: welcomed
Adjective:
Base form: welcome
Interjection:
welcome (often "You're welcome")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
An act or expression of greeting someone cordially and hospitably upon their arrival.
Synonyms: greeting, salutation, reception, hospitality, greeting, embrace
Antonyms: farewell, goodbye, dismissal, rejection, cold shoulder
The state of being gladly received or acceptable. (Often in phrases like "outstay one's welcome")
Synonyms: acceptance, reception, hospitality, cordiality
Antonyms: unacceptability, rejection, unwelcome, dismissal
Verb
To greet (someone) in a friendly and polite way upon their arrival, often inviting them in.
Synonyms: greet, receive, embrace, usher in, host
Antonyms: dismiss, reject, turn away, shun
To be pleased to receive or accept (something), or to regard it as a desirable event or development.
Synonyms: embrace, accept, approve of, appreciate, endorse, receive gladly
Antonyms: reject, refuse, disapprove, oppose, resent
Adjective
Gladly received; wanted or pleasing.
Synonyms: agreeable, desirable, pleasing, delightful, grateful, desired
Antonyms: unwelcome, undesirable, displeasing, annoying, unwanted
Allowed or invited to come or use something freely. (Often in phrases like "you are welcome to...")
Synonyms: permitted, allowed, invited, free
Antonyms: forbidden, prohibited, unwelcome, barred
Interjection
Used as a polite response to an expression of thanks. (As in "You're welcome" or "Welcome!")
Synonyms: (No direct synonyms; "no problem," "my pleasure," "glad to help")
Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
Examples of Use
Books:
"The first step in a man's life is to know where he is going. The second is to welcome the journey." (Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist, 1988)
Newspapers:
"Local businesses extended a welcome hand to the new tech firm, hoping its arrival would boost the city's economy." (The Standard)
Online Publications:
"The new update to the operating system has been a welcome change for users experiencing compatibility issues." (TechCrunch)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"You are always welcome in our home, no matter the hour." (Dialogue from a popular TV drama, The Crown, 2016-2023)
"A huge welcome to all our new subscribers! We're thrilled to have you here." (Introductory statement on a YouTube channel)
"The festival organizers prepared a grand welcome ceremony for the international delegations." (News report on a cultural festival)
General Public Discourse:
"Welcome home!"
"Thank you for your help!" "You're welcome!"
"We welcome constructive criticism to improve our services."
"She outstayed her welcome at the party."
10 Quotes Using Welcome
"When you open your heart with a welcome embrace, you allow the universe to fill you with boundless love." (Oprah Winfrey)
"I welcome all challenges." (LeBron James)
"Change, like sunshine, is a thing that is welcome." (Victor Hugo)
"Home is where love resides, memories are created, friends always belong, and laughter never ends. Welcome home." (Widely popular decorative sign/saying, often seen as a general sentiment rather than attributed)
"You are welcome to your opinion." (Common idiom, widely used)
"I welcome and bless all things that come to me." (Pema Chödrön)
"Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You're gonna love it!" (Monica Geller in Friends, TV series, 1994)
"Every new day is a chance to change your life. Welcome it." (Unknown, widely shared motivational quote)
"Oh, you're back. Welcome." (Spock in Star Trek, often delivered with his characteristic stoicism, implying a formal greeting; Star Trek: The Original Series, various episodes)
"We give a hearty welcome to the new year and a fresh start." (Unknown, common phrase for New Year's greetings)
Etymology
The word "welcome" has a lovely and quite literal origin, pointing to a greeting that expresses happiness at someone's arrival.
It comes from the Old English word "wilcuma" or "wilcume." This Old English term was a compound word formed from two parts:
"wil-": meaning "desire," "pleasure," or "will." This is related to the word "will" as in desire or choice.
"cuma": meaning "a comer" or "one who has come." This is related to the word "come."
So, literally, "wilcuma" meant "one whose coming is pleasing" or "a desired guest."
The first known use of "welcome" in English (in its Old English form "wilcuma") dates back to before the 12th century. Its original meaning was primarily as a noun referring to a guest who is gladly received, or as an adjective meaning "agreeable" or "desirable" to the guest.
Over time, it also developed into a verb ("to welcome someone") and an interjection ("Welcome!") to express this glad reception. The 'l' in the middle (from "wilcuma") eventually became common, leading to our modern spelling and pronunciation. The core idea of greeting someone with pleasure at their arrival has remained constant throughout its history.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Welcome
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "welcome":
You're welcome (the standard reply to "thank you")
Give someone a warm welcome (to greet someone enthusiastically and kindly)
Outstay one's welcome (to stay too long, becoming tiresome to the host)
Welcome mat (a mat at a doorway, often symbolizing hospitality; figuratively, a sign of being receptive)
Welcome news (information that is pleasing or relieving)
Welcome sight (something or someone pleasant to see)
Welcome change (a desirable alteration or improvement)
Welcome home! (a common greeting for someone returning)
Not welcome (unwanted or forbidden)
Welcome with open arms (to greet enthusiastically and acceptingly)
A welcome break (a desirable pause or rest)
The welcome wagon (a group or person who greets newcomers to a neighborhood)
Bid welcome (to formally greet or invite)
Welcome aboard (to greet a new member of a team or group)
Beyond welcome (more than just welcome; highly appreciated)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of welcome from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
