welcome
A1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A friendly greeting or reception; to greet someone kindly upon arrival.
Used to indicate acceptance, pleasure at the arrival of a person, idea, or development. Also describes something gladly permitted or accepted.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can function as interjection, verb, adjective, or noun, making it highly versatile. Its adjectival use (e.g., 'you are welcome') is primarily a response to thanks.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The adjectival response 'You're welcome' is standard in both, though Americans may use it more formulaically. UK speakers sometimes use 'You're welcome' more literally (e.g., 'You're welcome to stay').
Connotations
Both share core connotations of hospitality. In US advertising/signage, 'Welcome' is extremely common ('Welcome to California').
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
welcome somebody to somethingwelcome something as somethingbe welcome to do somethingwelcome somebody with open armsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “You're welcome.”
- “outstay one's welcome”
- “wear out one's welcome”
- “welcome with open arms”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'We welcome your inquiry.' Used in formal correspondence and customer service.
Academic
'The author welcomes this new line of research.' Used in discussions to show acceptance of ideas.
Everyday
'Welcome home!' As a common greeting or response to thanks.
Technical
Rare in pure technical contexts; used in UI/UX design ('Welcome screen').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They welcomed the delegates to the conference.
- The Prime Minister will welcome the initiative.
American English
- We welcome you to our home.
- The company welcomes feedback from its users.
adverb
British English
- Rare as a standalone adverb; used in 'welcome back' or 'welcome home' as adverbial phrases.
American English
- Same as British. Typically part of a phrasal greeting.
adjective
British English
- You're welcome to borrow my umbrella.
- A welcome respite from the rain.
American English
- You're welcome to try any dish on the menu.
- The cool breeze was a welcome change.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Welcome to our school!
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
- She welcomed her friend at the door.
- The new park is a welcome addition to the neighbourhood.
- They welcomed us with tea and biscuits.
- He is always welcome in our house.
- The government's proposal was welcomed by environmental groups.
- After a long journey, a hot shower was most welcome.
- He risked wearing out his welcome by staying too long.
- The ceasefire was widely welcomed as a step towards peace.
- Criticism is not only welcome but actively sought in this department.
- Her innovative approach was hailed as a welcome departure from tradition.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'WELL COME in' – a well-meant invitation to come inside.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOSPITALITY IS WARMTH (warm welcome), ACCEPTANCE IS AN OPEN DOOR.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse the adjective 'welcome' (желанный) with the verb 'to welcome' (приветствовать).
- The phrase 'You are welcome' as a response to thanks is a fixed formula; a direct translation ('Пожалуйста') is correct, but the literal sense is different.
- Avoid calquing 'welcome to' as an adjective phrase in structures like 'He is welcome to the club' – use 'He is welcome in the club.'
Common Mistakes
- Using 'well come' as two words.
- Overusing 'welcomed' as an adjective (*'I felt welcomed' is correct; *'You are welcomed' as a response to thanks is incorrect).
- Misplacing the preposition: 'Welcome in London' (less common) vs. 'Welcome to London.'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'welcome' as an adjective?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is the most common formal response, but others exist (e.g., 'No problem,' 'My pleasure,' 'Sure').
'You are welcome' is a fixed phrase (adjective). 'You are welcomed' is a passive verb construction (e.g., 'You are welcomed by the host').
Yes, e.g., 'You're welcome to try fixing it yourself!' implies the task is difficult or undesirable.
It is traditionally analysed as an interjection in this exclamatory use.
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