greet

/ɡriːt/
verbBeginner
informal

to say hello or welcome to someone

He greeted his neighbors as he walked down the street.

He said hello to his neighbors while walking.

💡

Commonly used in social and formal settings.

formal

to acknowledge someone's presence with a gesture or word

The host greeted the guests at the door.

The host acknowledged the guests' arrival at the entrance.

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Often used in formal or ceremonial contexts.

Collocations

greet someone warmlyto welcome someone in a friendly waygreet with a smileto welcome someone by smilinggreet someone formallyto welcome someone in a polite, official manner

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

greet with open armsphrase
to welcome someone enthusiastically
greet the dayphrase
to start the day with enthusiasm

💡Pro Tip

Formal vs. Informal Use

'Greet' is more formal than 'say hello'. Use it in polite or formal situations.

Gold Rule

Subject-Verb Agreement

'Greet' follows standard verb agreement rules (e.g., 'She greets her friends').

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'greten', from Old English 'grētan', meaning 'to touch or handle'. The modern sense of 'to welcome' developed in the 16th century.

📝Usage Notes

The verb 'greet' is often used in formal or polite contexts. It can be followed by a direct object (e.g., 'greet someone') or a prepositional phrase (e.g., 'greet with a smile').

Word Breakdown

greet
to welcome or address someone
root
English Dictionary