greeting
- 01 A1 Beginner
something you say or do to welcome someone or say hello.
a polite word or sign of welcome or recognition.
Simple“She gave me a warm greeting when I arrived at her house.”
In context“The host offered a formal greeting to each guest as they entered the ballroom, ensuring everyone felt acknowledged before the ceremony began.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
the words you use at the beginning of a letter or email, like 'Dear Sam'.
the conventional phrase used to open a written communication.
Simple“The greeting in a business email should usually be professional.”
In context“Choosing an appropriate greeting for a cover letter is essential, as 'To whom it may concern' can sometimes feel too impersonal for modern recruiters.”
SynonymssalutationAntonymssign offvalediction - 03 A2 Elementary
a message that sends good wishes, often found in a card.
an expression of good wishes or regards, typically pluralised when sent via a card or message.
Simple“We sent our birthday greetings to him by mail.”
In context“The card contained seasonal greetings from the entire department, wishing the retired professor a peaceful winter holiday.”
UsageOften used in the plural form 'greetings' in cards or formal messages.
By surface analysis, greet + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.