# greet

/ˈɡɹit/ (US) · /ɡɹˈiːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/greet
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to welcome someone

verb · CEFR A2

to say hello or welcome someone when you meet them.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. to react to news

verb · CEFR B2

to react to a piece of news or an idea in a specific way.

For teachers: to receive or respond to information or an event in a particular manner.

- 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'.

### 3. to be seen or heard

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to be the first thing you notice when you enter a place.

For teachers: to meet the sight, hearing, or other senses of a person upon their arrival.

- 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.

### 4. to cry

verb · CEFR C2 · Dialect

to cry or weep because you are sad.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She smiles to greet every customer who enters.
- The host stood by the door to greet the guests as they arrived for the dinner party.
- The president's proposal was greeted with skepticism by the opposition, who questioned the feasibility of the long-term funding model.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.