welcome

II. welcome² S2 W3 BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: adjective: ↑welcome ≠ ↑unwelcome, ↑welcoming; verb: ↑welcome; noun: ↑welcome]
1. if someone is welcome in a place, other people are glad that they are there:
I had the feeling I wasn’t really welcome.
I didn’t feel welcome in the club.
Mary made us very welcome.
We try to make the new students feel welcome.
2. if something is welcome, you enjoy it because you feel that you need it:
The weekend was a welcome break from the pressures of work.
Six months in Scotland would make a welcome change from London.
A cup of tea would be very welcome.
3. if something is welcome, you are glad that it has happened:
The increase in interest rates is welcome news for investors.
This new funding will come as a welcome boost for the industry.
4. be welcome to something spoken used to say that someone can have something if they want it, because you certainly do not want it:
If you want to take the job you’re welcome to it!
5. be welcome to do something spoken used to invite someone to do something if they would like to:
You’re welcome to stay for lunch.
6. you’re welcome! spoken a polite way of replying to someone who has just thanked you for something:
‘Thanks for the coffee.’ ‘You’re welcome.’

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

adjective
1. that you are pleased to have, receive, etc
• a welcome sight
• Your letter was very welcome.

• The fine weather made a welcome change.

2. (of people) accepted or wanted somewhere
• Children are always welcome at the hotel.
• Our neighbours made us welcome as soon as we arrived.
• I had the feeling we were not welcome at the meeting.

• a welcome guest

3. ~ to do sth (informal) used to say that you are happy for sb to do sth if they want to
• They're welcome to stay here as long as they like.

• You're welcome to use the pool.

4. ~ to sth (informal) used to say that you are very happy for sb to have sth because you definitely do not want it
• It's an awful job. If you want it, you're welcome to it!
Word Origin:
Old English wilcuma ‘a person whose coming is pleasing’, wilcumian (verb), from wil- ‘desire, pleasure’ + cuman ‘come’. The first element was later changed to wel- ‘well’, influenced by Old French bien venu or Old Norse velkominn.
Example Bank:
• He made it plain that Holman's interest in his business affairs was not entirely welcome.
• New members are welcome to the club.
• The 1% rate cut is extremely welcome.
• They made us very welcome in their home.
• Visitors are always welcome.
• You are perfectly welcome to stay here, if you don't mind the mess.
• You are perfectly welcome to stay here: I can't offer five-star accommodation, that's all.

• You would be a most welcome guest.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

welcome / ˈwel.kəm / adjective (MEETING)

B1 If someone is welcome, you are pleased when they visit you:

Come and see us whenever you're in town - you're always welcome/you'll always be welcome.

Out in the desert the traveller is a welcome guest .

make sb welcome B1 to show someone that you are pleased that they are with you:

The restaurant made the children very welcome.

welcome / ˈwel.kəm / adjective (PLEASED)

B2 If something is welcome, you are pleased to have or do it:

The holiday was a welcome change/break/relief .

She offered him the welcome chance/opportunity to do something different.

A nice cup of tea would be very welcome.

be welcome to do sth B1 used to tell someone that they can certainly do something:

Anyone who is interested is welcome to come along.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

welcome

/welkəm/
(welcomes, welcoming, welcomed)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
If you welcome someone, you greet them in a friendly way when they arrive somewhere.
Several people came by to welcome me...
She was there to welcome him home from war...
The delegates received a welcoming speech by the President.
VERB: V n, V n adv/prep, V-ing
•
Welcome is also a noun.
There would be a fantastic welcome awaiting him back here.
N-COUNT: usu sing

2.
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.
CONVENTION [formulae]

3.
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...
VERB: V n
•
Welcome is also a noun.
Environmental groups have given a guarded welcome to the Prime Minister’s proposal.
N-COUNT: usu sing

4.
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...
ADJ

5.
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.
VERB: V n

6.
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.
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ

7.
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.
ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ to-inf

8.
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.
ADJ: v-link ADJ to n

9.
see also welcoming

10.
If you make someone welcome or make them feel welcome, you make them feel happy and accepted in a new place.
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.
After the kindness that had been shown to him, he didn’t want to outstay his welcome.
PHRASE: V inflects

12.
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.’
CONVENTION [formulae]

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

²welcome adj [more ~; most ~]
1 : giving someone happiness or pleasure
• That is welcome news.
• That will be a welcome change.
• He was a welcome sight.
2
- used to say that you are happy to have someone come to and stay in a place (such as your home)
• You're always welcome in our home. [=we are always glad to have you as a guest in our home]
• They always made us feel very welcome when we visited them.
3 a
- used to say that someone can have or take something because you do not want it yourself; + to
• If you want that last cookie, you're welcome to it—I can't eat another bite.
• If she really wants this old computer, she's welcome to it.
b
- used to say that someone can certainly do or use something if he or she wants to; followed by to + verb
• Anyone is welcome to use the pool. [=anyone can use the pool]
• You are welcome to sleep here if you want.
you're welcome
- used as a response to someone who has thanked you
• “Thanks for the ride.” “You're welcome.”