welcome

8 synonyms and 1 antonym for welcome, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Received with pleasure; wanted or appreciated.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

wanted acceptable receive

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

appreciated desired pleasing

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

agreeable gladly received

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Received with pleasure; wanted or appreciated.

“After a noisy week, the quiet of the countryside was a welcome change.”

appreciated wanted desired agreeable pleasing acceptable gladly received receive

Opposites

unwelcome

2. verb

To greet someone warmly on their arrival, or to accept something gladly.

“The school welcomes new parents with tea and a short tour each autumn.”

receive

How to use welcome

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

welcome someone with open arms a warm welcome outstay your welcome welcome news

Etymology

From Old English wilcuma, literally "a person whose coming is wished for," combining will (desire) and come. The "wil-" was later reshaped into "wel-," influenced by the word "well," once people stopped connecting it to "will."

Full origin of welcome →

Frequently asked questions

What does “welcome” mean?

The word “welcome” means received with pleasure; wanted or appreciated. In plain terms, wanted, or the act of greeting someone gladly.

How do you pronounce “welcome”?

“Welcome” is pronounced WEHL-kuhm (/ˈwɛl.kəm/ in IPA).

How do you use “welcome” in a sentence?

Here is “welcome” used in a sentence: “Your feedback is always welcome.”

What part of speech is “welcome”?

Depending on how it is used, “welcome” can be an adjective, a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “welcome” come from?

The word “welcome” comes from Old English.

Is “welcome” a common word?

“Welcome” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

How many meanings does “welcome” have?

“Welcome” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: received with pleasure; wanted or appreciated.

What is the difference between welcome and welcomed?

Welcome as an adjective describes something received with pleasure — 'a welcome break.' Welcomed is the past tense of the verb, describing the act of greeting — 'they welcomed us at the door.' A guest can be welcome (wanted) and also welcomed (greeted warmly), but the two forms are not interchangeable.

What does 'you're welcome' mean?

'You're welcome' is the standard polite reply to 'thank you.' It reassures the other person that the favor was given gladly and was no trouble, so they need not feel indebted. Here welcome keeps its core sense: you are freely permitted, and your thanks is happily received.

What is the opposite of welcome?

The opposite of a welcome adjective is unwelcome — not wanted, not appreciated, or received with displeasure. An unwelcome guest, an unwelcome surprise, or unwelcome news all arrive without being desired. Related opposites include unwanted, unpleasant, and, for people, uninvited or intrusive.

People also searched

wanted receive acceptable desired appreciated pleasing agreeable unwelcome

Nearby words

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