homecoming

noun

home·​com·​ing ˈhōm-ˌkə-miŋ 

1

: a return home

a soldier's homecoming

2

: the return of a group of people usually on a special occasion to a place formerly frequented or regarded as home

especially : an annual celebration for alumni at a high school, college, or university

—often used before another noun

a homecoming rally

homecoming weekend

the annual homecoming game/dance

was elected the homecoming queen

Examples of homecoming in a Sentence

A large crowd gathered at the airport for the soldiers' homecoming.

Recent Examples on the Web

The deli counter at Corti transports me back there, a homecoming. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026

Smith said her grandma needed her bestie with her at homecoming. —Kara Finnstrom, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026

That homecoming hasn’t exactly been a straight line for Alvarado, whose playing time has ebbed and flowed since his arrival in early February. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026

Your tour for The Show felt like a homecoming after the album before that, Heartbreak Weather, arrived at the worst possible time, in March 2020. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for homecoming

• overcoming
• unbecoming
• becoming
• forthcoming
• incoming
• oncoming
• shortcoming
• succumbing
• upcoming
• coming
• cumming
• drumming

Kids Definition

homecoming

noun

home·​com·​ing ˈhōm-ˌkəm-ing 

1

: a return home

2

a

: the return of a group of people usually on a special occasion to a place formerly frequented

b

: a yearly celebration for alumni at a school