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greet
/ɡriːt/
to welcome or address someone politely
She greeted her guests with a warm smile.
She welcomed her guests by smiling at them in a friendly way.
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.
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
Related Phrases
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
rootEnglish Dictionary