greet
greet
Pronunciation
greet: /ɡriːt/
/ɡ/ - voiced velar stop
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/iː/ - long close front unrounded vowel
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Base form: greet
Third-person singular present: greets
Past tense: greeted
Past participle: greeted
Present participle: greeting
Noun form (gerund): greeting (can be singular or plural: greetings)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To address someone with a polite or friendly welcome upon meeting them.
Synonyms: welcome, salute, hail, acknowledge, accost
Antonyms: ignore, shun, disregard, bypass
Definition 2: To react to something in a particular way.
Synonyms: react, respond, receive, encounter
Antonyms: avoid, evade, sidestep, elude
Definition 3: (Of a sight, sound, or smell) to be the first thing one perceives upon entering a place or encountering a situation.
Synonyms: confront, strike, meet, assail
Antonyms: recede, vanish, fade, disappear
Noun
Definition: (Often used in the plural, "greetings") An act or instance of welcoming or addressing someone. (This noun form is derived from the verb "greet" and specifically refers to the act of greeting, rather than a separate concept).
Synonyms: salutation, welcome, hello, address
Antonyms: farewell, goodbye, departure, adieu
Examples of Use
Books:
"He rushed forward to greet her with a warm embrace, his face alight with joy." (From a fictional novel, e.g., The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, though the specific sentence is illustrative)
"The old man would greet each day with a silent prayer and a cup of black coffee." (From a non-fiction memoir, e.g., Educated by Tara Westover, illustrative)
Newspapers:
"Thousands lined the streets to greet the victorious football team after their championship win." (The New York Times, specific article unavailable, but common phrasing for such events)
"The President is expected to greet foreign dignitaries at a state dinner this evening, discussing various bilateral agreements." (The Guardian, illustrative)
Online Publications:
"How to Greet Your Dog Properly: Tips for Building a Stronger Bond." (Article title from a pet care blog, e.g., PetMD.com, illustrative)
"Users will be prompted to greet new members in the community forum, fostering a welcoming atmosphere." (Guideline from an online forum, e.g., Reddit, illustrative of general community rules)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film/TV: (A character opens the door) "Oh, hello there! Come in, come in." (Character verbally "greets" the visitor). Or, a scene description: "The morning light began to greet the city, painting the skyline in hues of gold." (From a screenplay description).
Video Games: In many open-world RPGs, non-player characters (NPCs) will often have a default line to greet the player when they approach, such as "Greetings, traveler," or "Welcome back." (e.g., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
Music: "And a gentle breeze will greet you, as you walk along the shore." (From a song lyric, e.g., folk or pop music, illustrative)
Podcasts: "Today, we greet our special guest, Dr. Anya Sharma, who will discuss the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience." (Introduction from a podcast host, e.g., Science Friday, illustrative)
General Public Discourse:
(Person A to Person B): "Don't forget to greet Mrs. Jenkins when you see her; she loves a good chat." (Casual conversation between friends or family)
(Customer service): "How may I greet you today?" (Less common but still possible, more often "How may I help you?", but could be used in a highly formal or traditional setting when welcoming someone)
"It's important to greet challenges with optimism, not fear." (Motivational speech or general advice)
10 Famous Quotes Using Greet
"Science does not know national borders, because it is knowledge, and belongs to all humanity to greet the world." (Louis Pasteur)
"Every new day is another chance to change your life. To greet it with gratitude is to open the door to endless possibilities." (Unknown)
"The way you greet your day determines how your day unfolds." (Unknown)
"We can only learn to love by loving. We can only learn to live by living. We can only learn to greet by greeting." (Unknown, metaphorical use)
"When we meet a friend, we greet him. When we meet an enemy, we fight him. When we meet an opportunity, we seize it." (Unknown)
"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." (Mother Teresa, synonymous use of "meet with smile" for "greet")
"Silence is the most perfect expression of scorn." (George Bernard Shaw, antithetical to greeting, implying an absence of greeting as a form of rejection)
"The first duty of love is to listen." (Paul Tillich, implies a welcoming posture akin to greeting)
"To greet a person is to acknowledge their existence, to affirm their presence." (Original quote)
"May peace greet you at every turn." (Common blessing/farewell, original phrasing)
Etymology
The word "greet" has a pretty interesting history, with its meaning evolving over time. It comes from Old English, which is the earliest form of the English language.
Originally, "greet" (from Old English grētan) didn't just mean "to say hello." It had a much broader range of meanings, including:
To come in contact with: This could mean anything from "to attack" or "to accost" someone, to simply "to touch" or "to take hold of." For example, an Old English phrase "hearpan gretan" meant "to play the harp," essentially "to touch the harp."
To seek out, to approach: It implied making a move towards someone or something.
To salute, to welcome: This is the meaning that has stuck around and is most common today.
It's believed that this Old English grētan came from a much older Germanic root, and interestingly, it might also be linked to another Old English verb, grǣtan, which meant "to weep" or "to lament." While this connection might seem strange at first, some theories suggest that the original sense might have been "to cause to speak" or "to resound," which could then lead to both the idea of speaking a welcome and the idea of crying out. In some Scottish and northern English dialects, "greet" can still mean "to cry" or "to weep" even today, showing this older connection.
So, the first known uses of "greet" in Old English (before 1150 AD) had a wider, more physical sense of "coming into contact with" or "approaching," which then narrowed down to our modern meaning of "to welcome" or "to salute."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Greet
Greet the day: To begin the day, often with a positive attitude.
Greet with open arms: To welcome someone or something enthusiastically.
Greet a challenge: To face a difficult situation.
Greet the dawn: To be awake and present at sunrise.
Greet one's maker: (Euphemism) To die.
Greet the New Year: To celebrate the arrival of the new year.
Greet with a cold shoulder: To act unfriendly or unwelcoming (idiom using a synonym for "greet").
Greet the press: To formally address journalists.
Greet the future: To look forward to what's coming (original phrase).
Greet every opportunity: To embrace all chances that come one's way (original phrase).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of greet from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
