homecoming
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of coming back to your home or your country after being away for a long time.
the act of returning to one's home, family, or native country after a prolonged absence.
Simple“The soldier's homecoming was a joyful event for the whole family.”
In context“After ten years of living abroad, her homecoming was bittersweet as she noticed how much the old neighbourhood had changed in her absence.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
an annual event at American schools and universities to welcome back former students.
an annual tradition in North American secondary and tertiary education involving a football game and social events to welcome back alumni.
Simple“She bought a beautiful new dress for the homecoming dance next week.”
In context“The university's homecoming weekend featured a massive parade through the town centre followed by a highly anticipated football match against their rivals.”
UsageOften used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'homecoming game' or 'homecoming queen'.
Synonyms
“McGurn was born and raised in Glasgow and studied painting in Dundee, so this show is something of a homecoming.”
“Playing music – even on an unfamiliar instrument – feels like a homecoming.”
From Middle English hom-comyng, home komyng, home-cumyng, home-commynge, equivalent to home + coming. Probably an alteration of earlier Middle English hom-come, homkome, hame-come, ham-cume, from Old English hāmcyme (“homecoming; return”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.