greet

1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈgrēt 

greeted; greeting; greets

transitive verb

1

: to address with expression of kind wishes upon meeting or arrival

greeted guests at the door

2

a

: to meet or react to in a specified manner

greeted him with boos

b

: to occur as a response to

apathy greeted the plan

3

: to appear to the perception of

a surprising sight greeted her eyes

greeter noun

greet

2 of 2

verb (2)

grat ˈgrat  ; grutten ˈgrə-tᵊn 

intransitive verb

Scotland

: weep, lament

Examples of greet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That number was not greeted with applause by some Republicans on the committee. —Quil Lawrence, NPR, 22 Mar. 2025

Sticks and debris often greet mower blades during the first mowing sessions of the season. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2025

Guests are greeted by a handmade ceramic blue gradient facade — a first taste of the Tiffany iconic hue and a nod to the legacy of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s early 20th-century mosaic work. —Thomas Waller, WWD, 21 Mar. 2025

After the SpaceX capsule splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean, they were greeted by a pod of dolphins swimming nearby. —Alex Knapp, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English greten, from Old English grētan; akin to Old English grǣtan to weep

Verb (2)

Middle English greten, from Old English grǣtan; akin to Old Norse grāta to weep

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing greet

• meet and greet

Rhymes for greet

• beat
• beet
• bleat
• cheat
• cleat
• creat
• deet
• eat
• feat
• feet
• fleet
• heat

Kids Definition

greet

verb

ˈgrēt

1

: to address upon arrival or meeting with expressions of kind wishes

greeted guests at the door

2

: to meet or react to in a specified manner

greeted with cheers

3

: to appear or present itself to

a surprising sight greeted her eyes

greeter noun