Word
greet
US/ˈɡɹit/
UK/ɡɹˈiːt/
Definitions
01to welcome someone
A2 · Elementary
v. to say hello or welcome someone when you meet them.
v. to address someone with expressions of kind wishes upon meeting or arrival.
“She smiled and greeted her guests at the front door.”
“The ambassador greeted each delegate personally, ensuring that the atmosphere remained cordial before the formal negotiations began.”
Usage
This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.
02to react to news
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to react to a piece of news or an idea in a specific way.
v. to receive or respond to information or an event in a particular manner.
日本語:迎える※
“The news of the price increase was greeted with anger by the customers.”
“The proposal to shorten the work week was greeted with cautious optimism by the union representatives during the press conference.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice followed by 'with'.
Synonyms
03to be seen or heard
B2 · Upper Intermediate Literary
v. to be the first thing you notice when you enter a place.
v. to meet the sight, hearing, or other senses of a person upon their arrival.
日本語:出迎える※
“A beautiful view of the mountains greeted us as we reached the top.”
“As the explorers entered the hidden valley, a silence so profound it felt heavy greeted them, broken only by the distant rush of a waterfall.”
04to cry
C2 · Proficiency Dialect
v. to cry or weep because you are sad.
v. to weep or lament audibly.
“The young child began to greet when he realized he had lost his favorite toy.”
“In the traditional ballad, the heroine is described as greeting for her lost love by the banks of the river.”
Teaching tip
This sense is specific to Scottish and Northern English dialects; learners should use 'cry' or 'weep' in standard contexts.
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English greten, from Old English grētan, from Proto-West Germanic grōtijan, from Proto-Germanic grōtijaną.
From Middle English greet, grete (“great”).
From a blend of two Old English verbs, grētan, grǣtan (itself from Proto-West Germanic grātan); and of Old English grēotan (itself from greutan), both meaning "to weep, lament". Possibly reinforced in Northern England and Scotland by Old Norse gráta, whence also Danish græde, Norwegian gråte, Swedish gråta, all meaning "to cry, to weep".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/greet
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0