greeting
How conversations begin
A greeting is a word, phrase, or gesture acknowledging someone's presence or beginning communication: She waved in greeting.
Common greetings include hello, hi, good morning, and handshakes.
The plural often appears on cards: Season's greetings.
A greeting can be warm or perfunctory depending on the relationship and context.
Informal spoken salutation
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- smilePleased facial expression
- nodBrief head tilt
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
hug · hello · howdy · aloha · namaste · shalom · bonjour · hola
Mutual palm-gripping gesture
- bowRespectful forward inclination
- curtsyRespectful knee-bending gesture
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- nodBrief head tilt
salute · hug · embrace · fist bump · high five · kiss · prostration · genuflection
Act of receiving guests
- hospitalityGenerous treatment of guests
- arrivalAct of reaching destination
- homecomingReturning to one's origin
- thresholdPoint of beginning
doorstep · host · guest · embrace · open arms · mat · usher · entry
Ceremonial set of actions
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
formal · informal · cultural · bowing · handshaking · address · honorific · title
Departing salutation
- farewellLeave-taking expression
- adieuFormal leave-taking
- partingAct of leaving another
- leave-takingAct of saying goodbye
send-off · adios · au revoir · sayonara · ciao · shalom · aloha · cheerio
Warmly friendly manner
- friendlyShowing kindness, warmth
- heartyWarm and substantial
- sincereGenuinely felt, not feigned
- affectionateShowing warm regard
warm · enthusiastic · genuine · cheerful · welcoming · heartfelt · gracious · jovial
Stiff paper rectangle
- messageTransmitted communication
- well-wishesExpressions desiring another's happiness
- sentimentFelt attitude or view
- occasionNotable event or moment
envelope · signature · Hallmark · e-card · postcard · note · inscription · stationery
hi
Informal spoken salutation
handshake · hug · hello · howdy · aloha · namaste · shalom · bonjour · hola · ciao
handshake
Mutual palm-gripping gesture
- bowRespectful forward inclination
- curtsyRespectful knee-bending gesture
- waveOscillating motion through medium
nod · salute · hug · embrace · fist bump · high five · kiss · prostration · genuflection · kowtow
reception
Act of receiving guests
- hospitalityGenerous treatment of guests
- arrivalAct of reaching destination
- homecomingReturning to one's origin
threshold · doorstep · host · guest · embrace · open arms · mat · usher · entry · admittance
ritual
Ceremonial set of actions
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
ceremony · formal · informal · cultural · bowing · handshaking · address · honorific · title
goodbye
Departing salutation
leave-taking · send-off · adios · au revoir · sayonara · ciao · shalom · aloha · cheerio · ta-ta
cordial
Warmly friendly manner
affectionate · warm · enthusiastic · genuine · cheerful · welcoming · heartfelt · gracious · jovial · genial
card
Stiff paper rectangle
- messageTransmitted communication
- well-wishesExpressions desiring another's happiness
- sentimentFelt attitude or view
occasion · envelope · signature · Hallmark · e-card · postcard · note · inscription · stationery · felicitations
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
- conversationlistening, talk, talking, chat, speaking
- hospitalityhotel, hotels, warmth, kindness, welcome
- interactionstalking, sharing, helping, listening, embrace
- messagesmessage, email, text message, text, instant message
- social interactionshello, goodbye, talk, nod, chat
- greeting cardsPaper sentiments for occasions
- season's greetingsGeneric winter festivity phrase
- holiday greetingsFestive expressions of goodwill
- warm greeting
- seasonal greetingsFestive well-wishes exchanged annually
- greeting etiquetteNorms for acknowledging others