verb
greet
GREET/ɡriːt/
To respond to someone or something upon encountering it.
The host greets a visitor with a friendly handshake.
Etymology
Old English gretan covered many kinds of contact, from touching or approaching people to attacking or welcoming them. The modern sense narrows this broad contact to salutation; the word’s deeper origin is uncertain.
In context
Within hours, 15,000 troops are ashore. Alongside 40 pieces of artillery, hundreds of loyalists swarmed the beach to greet them as liberators.
More examples
- She greets her coworkers with a wave each morning.
- The smell of fresh coffee greets us at the door.
- The audience greeted the announcement with cheers.
Forms
greet · greets · greeted · greeting
greeting noun — Words or gestures acknowledging someone on meeting.
Similar words
- welcome
- Emphasizes making someone feel wanted or gladly received.
- acknowledge
- Indicates noticing someone, without necessarily offering a warm welcome.