welcome

[[t]we̱lkəm[/t]]

♦♦

welcomes, welcoming, welcomed

1) VERB If you welcome someone, you greet them in a friendly way when they arrive somewhere.

[V n] Several people came by to welcome me...

[V n adv/prep] She was there to welcome him home from war...

[V-ing] The delegates received a welcoming speech by the President.

N-COUNT: usu sing

Welcome is also a noun.

There would be a fantastic welcome awaiting him back here.

2) CONVENTION (formulae) You use welcome in expressions such as welcome home, welcome to London, and welcome back when you are greeting someone who has just arrived somewhere.

Welcome to Washington...

Welcome back, Deborah - It's good to have you here.

3) VERB If you welcome an action, decision, or situation, you approve of it and are pleased that it has occurred.

[V n] She welcomed this move but said that overall the changes didn't go far enough...

[V n] In Germany, the move was welcomed by the Bundesbank president.

N-COUNT: usu sing

Welcome is also a noun.

Environmental groups have given a guarded welcome to the Prime Minister's proposal.

4) ADJ-GRADED If you describe something as welcome, you mean that people wanted it and are happy that it has occurred.

This was certainly a welcome change of fortune...

The new 25 metre pool for more serious swimmers is a welcome addition...

Any progress in reducing chemical weapons is welcome.

5) VERB If you say that you welcome certain people or actions, you are inviting and encouraging people to do something, for example to come to a particular place.

[V n] We welcome you to join us on a special tour which explores this unique Australian attraction...

[V n] We would welcome your views about the survey.

6) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ If you say that someone is welcome in a particular place, you are encouraging them to go there by telling them that they will be liked and accepted.

New members are always welcome...

I told him he wasn't welcome in my home.

7) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ to-inf If you tell someone that they are welcome to do something, you are encouraging them to do it by telling them that they are allowed to do it.

You are welcome to visit the hospital at any time.

...a conservatory which guests are welcome to use.

8) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ to n If you say that someone is welcome to something, you mean that you do not want it yourself because you do not like it and you are very willing for them to have it.

If women want to take on the business world they are welcome to it as far as I'm concerned.

9) → See also welcoming

10) PHRASE: make inflects If you make someone welcome or make them feel welcome, you make them feel happy and accepted in a new place.

11) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that someone outstays their welcome or overstays their welcome, you mean that they stay somewhere longer than they are wanted or expected to.

After the kindness that had been shown to him, he didn't want to outstay his welcome.

12) CONVENTION (formulae) You say `You're welcome' to someone who has thanked you for something in order to acknowledge their thanks in a polite way.

`Thank you for the information.' - `You're welcome.'