welcome (welcomes plural & 3rd person present) (welcoming present participle) (welcomed past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you welcome someone, you greet them in a friendly way when they arrive somewhere.
Several people came by to welcome me... V n
She was there to welcome him home from war... V n adv/prep
The delegates received a welcoming speech by the President. V-ing
Welcome is also a noun., n-count usu sing
There would be a fantastic welcome awaiting him back here.
2 convention 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., (formulae)
Welcome to Washington..., Welcome back, Deborah<endash>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.
She welcomed this move but said that overall the changes didn't go far enough... V n
Welcome is also a noun., n-count usu sing
Environmental groups have given a guarded welcome to the Prime Minister's proposal.
4 adj 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...
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.
We would welcome your views about the survey. V n
6 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.
usu v-link ADJ
New members are always welcome..., I told him he wasn't welcome in my home.
7 adj If you tell someone that they are welcometo do something, you are encouraging them to do it by telling them that they are allowed to do it.
v-link ADJ, usu ADJ to-inf
You are welcome to visit the hospital at any time.
8 adj 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.
v-link ADJ to n
If women want to take on the business world they are welcome to it as far as I'm concerned.
10 If you make someone welcome or make them feel welcome, you make them feel happy and accepted in a new place.
make sb welcome phrase make inflects
11 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.
outstay/overstay one's welcome phrase V inflects
After the kindness that had been shown to him, he didn't want to outstay his welcome.
12 You say `You're welcome' to someone who has thanked you for something in order to acknowledge their thanks in a polite way.
you're welcome convention
(formulae)
`Thank you for the information.'—`You're welcome.'