Looking up...
greeting
/ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
a friendly or polite expression of welcome
She gave me a warm greeting when I arrived.
She welcomed me in a friendly way when I arrived.
formalinformal
an act of welcoming or addressing someone politely
The host offered a cheerful greeting to all guests.
The host welcomed all guests in a cheerful manner.
A simple greeting can make someone's day better.
A polite welcome can improve someone's mood.
Greetings can vary in formality and cultural context.
Collocations
warm greetinga friendly and welcoming expressionformal greetinga polite and respectful welcomeverbal greetinga spoken welcomenon-verbal greetinga gesture or action that conveys welcome
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Cultural Awareness
Greetings vary widely across cultures. Research local customs before traveling.
Gold Rule
Appropriate Greetings
Match the formality of your greeting to the situation. Use formal greetings in professional settings and informal ones with friends.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'gretynge', from Old English 'grēting', from 'grētan' (to greet). Related to Old High German 'grōzen' (to greet).
Usage Notes
Greetings are culturally specific and can include gestures, words, or actions. Common greetings in English include 'hello', 'hi', and 'good morning'.
Word Breakdown
greet
to welcome or address someone
root-ing
the action or state of
suffixEnglish Dictionary