Meet vs. Greet — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 22, 2024
Meet involves arranging to come together for discussion or activity, while greet is the act of welcoming or acknowledging someone's presence.
Difference Between Meet and Greet
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
When you meet someone, it typically implies a planned or spontaneous encounter where two or more people come together, possibly for a specific purpose like a meeting or social event. On the other hand, to greet someone means to offer a sign of welcome or recognition, such as a handshake, wave, or verbal salutation, when they arrive or when you first see them.
Meeting can be formal or informal and involves engaging in conversation or activities with others. Whereas greeting is often the initial part of meeting someone and can be very brief, such as saying "hello" or "good morning."
In professional contexts, meetings are essential for discussing projects, making decisions, or sharing information. On the other hand, greetings in such contexts set the tone for the interaction, demonstrating politeness and establishing rapport.
Socially, meeting friends can involve various activities and is often a more extended interaction. In contrast, greeting someone can simply involve acknowledging another person's presence, which might not lead to further interaction.
Meetings can also occur between two groups or at a designated meeting point and are often scheduled in advance. Conversely, greetings are usually exchanged at the beginning of a social or professional gathering and require no prior arrangement.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
To come together with one or more people.
To offer a sign of welcome or recognition.
Usage Context
Business, social, or public settings.
Any setting where introductions are made.
Duration
Can be lengthy, depending on the purpose.
Typically brief.
Formality
Can be either formal or informal.
Usually informal, but can be formal.
Associated Actions
Involves discussion, activities, or cooperation.
Involves gestures like handshakes or smiles.
Compare with Definitions
Meet
To encounter by chance.
I met my old teacher while shopping.
Greet
To acknowledge someone’s arrival.
The host greeted us as we entered.
Meet
To come together with someone intentionally.
We plan to meet at the café at noon.
Greet
To say hello to someone.
He greeted me with a warm smile.
Meet
To assemble for a purpose.
The board will meet next Wednesday.
Greet
To welcome guests at an event.
She greets each guest at the door.
Meet
To face or confront a challenge.
They met their sales target for the month.
Greet
To address someone upon meeting.
She greeted each panelist by name.
Meet
To fulfill or satisfy a condition.
The new model meets all safety standards.
Greet
To react to something in a specific way.
They greeted the proposal with applause.
Meet
To come into the presence of by chance or arrangement
I was surprised to meet an old friend in the park. I met a friend for coffee.
Greet
To salute or welcome in a friendly and respectful way with speech or writing, as upon meeting or in starting a letter.
Meet
To come into the company of
I met my colleagues for a meeting.
Greet
To receive with a specified reaction
Greet a joke with laughter.
Meet
To be introduced to; make the acquaintance of
Have you met my wife?.
Greet
To be perceived by
A din greeted our ears.
Meet
To come together or confront in opposition
The rival teams meet next week.
Greet
(transitive) To welcome in a friendly manner, either in person or through another means such as writing.
Meet
To be present at the arrival of
Met the train.
Greet
(transitive) To arrive at or reach, or meet.
Meet
To come into conjunction with; join or touch
Where the road meets the highway.
Greet
(transitive) To accost; to address.
Meet
To come into conformity with the views, wishes, or opinions of
The firm has done its best to meet us on that point.
Greet
To meet and give salutations.
Meet
To come to the notice of (the senses)
There is more here than meets the eye.
Greet
(transitive) To be perceived by (somebody).
A brilliant dawn greeted her eyes as she looked out of the window.
Meet
To experience or undergo
He met his fate with courage. The project has met a setback.
Greet
To weep; to cry.
Meet
To be sufficient for (a need, for example); fulfill
Meet all the conditions in the contract.
Greet
Great.
Meet
To deal or contend with effectively
We can meet each problem as it arises.
Greet
(obsolete) Mourning, weeping, lamentation.
Meet
To pay; settle
Enough money to meet expenses.
Greet
Great.
Meet
To come together
Didn't recognize him when we met. Where should we meet for lunch?.
Greet
To weep; to cry; to lament.
Meet
To come into conjunction; be joined
The two pipes meet in the corner.
Greet
To address with salutations or expressions of kind wishes; to salute; to hail; to welcome; to accost with friendship; to pay respects or compliments to, either personally or through the intervention of another, or by writing or token.
My lord, the mayor of London comes to greet you.
Meet
To come together as opponents; contend
The team met with its rival.
Greet
To come upon, or meet, as with something that makes the heart glad.
In vain the spring my senses greets.
Meet
To become introduced
Where did the two of you meet?.
Greet
To accost; to address.
Meet
To assemble
Protesters met in the square.
Greet
To meet and give salutations.
There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, And sleep in peace.
Meet
To occur together, especially in one person or entity
Suspense and intrigue meet in this new movie.
Greet
Mourning.
Meet
A meeting or contest, especially an athletic competition.
Greet
Greeting.
Meet
Fitting; proper
"It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place" (Shakespeare).
Greet
Express greetings upon meeting someone
Meet
To make contact (with) while in proximity.
Greet
Send greetings to
Meet
To come face to face with by accident; to encounter.
Fancy meeting you here! Guess who I met at the supermarket today?
Greet
React to in a certain way;
The President was greeted with catcalls
Meet
To come face to face with someone by arrangement.
Let's meet at the station at 9 o'clock.
Greet
Be perceived by;
Loud music greeted him when he entered the apartment
Meet
To get acquainted with someone.
I'm pleased to meet you! I'd like you to meet a colleague of mine.
I met my husband through a mutual friend at a party. It wasn't love at first sight; in fact, we couldn't stand each other at first!
Meet
(Of groups) To come together.
Meet
To gather for a formal or social discussion; to hold a meeting.
I met with them several times. The government ministers met today to start the negotiations.
Meet
To come together in conflict.
Meet
(sports) To play a match.
England and Holland will meet in the final.
Meet
To make physical or perceptual contact.
Meet
To converge and finally touch or intersect.
The two streets meet at a crossroad half a mile away.
Meet
To touch or hit something while moving.
The right wing of the car met the column in the garage, leaving a dent.
Meet
To adjoin, be physically touching.
The carpet meets the wall at this side of the room. The forest meets the sea along this part of the coast.
Meet
(transitive) To respond to (an argument etc.) with something equally convincing; to refute.
He met every objection to the trip with another reason I should go.
Meet
To satisfy; to comply with.
This proposal meets my requirements. The company agrees to meet the cost of any repairs.
Meet
(intransitive) To balance or come out correct.
Meet
To perceive; to come to a knowledge of; to have personal acquaintance with; to experience; to suffer.
The eye met a horrid sight. He met his fate.
Meet
To be mixed with, to be combined with aspects of.
Meet
(sports) A sports competition, especially for track and field or swimming.
Track meet
Swim meet
Meet
(hunting) A gathering of riders, horses and hounds for foxhunting; a field meet for hunting.
Meet
(rail transport) A meeting of two trains in opposite directions on a single track, when one is put into a siding to let the other cross.
Meet
(informal) A meeting.
OK, let's arrange a meet with Tyler and ask him.
Meet
(algebra) The greatest lower bound, an operation between pairs of elements in a lattice, denoted by the symbol ∧.
Meet
(archaic) Suitable; right; proper.
Meet
To join, or come in contact with; esp., to come in contact with by approach from an opposite direction; to come upon or against, front to front, as distinguished from contact by following and overtaking.
Meet
To come in collision with; to confront in conflict; to encounter hostilely; as, they met the enemy and defeated them; the ship met opposing winds and currents.
Meet
To come into the presence of without contact; to come close to; to intercept; to come within the perception, influence, or recognition of; as, to meet a train at a junction; to meet carriages or persons in the street; to meet friends at a party; sweet sounds met the ear.
His daughter came out to meet him.
Meet
To perceive; to come to a knowledge of; to have personal acquaintance with; to experience; to suffer; as, the eye met a horrid sight; he met his fate.
Of vice or virtue, whether blest or curst,Which meets contempt, or which compassion first.
Meet
To come up to; to be even with; to equal; to match; to satisfy; to ansver; as, to meet one's expectations; the supply meets the demand.
Meet
To come together by mutual approach; esp., to come in contact, or into proximity, by approach from opposite directions; to join; to come face to face; to come in close relationship; as, we met in the street; two lines meet so as to form an angle.
O, when meet nowSuch pairs in love and mutual honor joined !
Meet
To come together with hostile purpose; to have an encounter or conflict.
Weapons more violent, when next we meet,May serve to better us and worse our foes.
Meet
To assemble together; to congregate; as, Congress meets on the first Monday of December.
They . . . appointed a day to meet together.
Meet
To come together by mutual concessions; hence, to agree; to harmonize; to unite.
We met with many things worthy of observation.
Prepare to meet with more than brutal furyFrom the fierce prince.
Meet
An assembling together; esp., the assembling of huntsmen for the hunt; also, the persons who so assemble, and the place of meeting.
Meet
Suitable; fit; proper; appropriate; qualified; convenient.
It was meet that we should make merry.
Meet
Meetly.
Meet
A meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held
Meet
Come together;
I'll probably see you at the meeting
How nice to see you again!
Meet
Get together socially or for a specific purpose
Meet
Be adjacent or come together;
The lines converge at this point
Meet
Fill or meet a want or need
Meet
Satisfy a condition or restriction;
Does this paper meet the requirements for the degree?
Meet
Satisfy or fulfill;
Meet a need
This job doesn't match my dreams
Meet
Get to know; get acquainted with;
I met this really handsome guy at a bar last night!
We met in Singapore
Meet
Collect in one place;
We assembled in the church basement
Let's gather in the dining room
Meet
Meet by design; be present at the arrival of;
Can you meet me at the train station?
Meet
Contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle;
Princeton plays Yale this weekend
Charlie likes to play Mary
Meet
Experience as a reaction;
My proposal met with much opposition
Meet
Undergo or suffer;
Meet a violent death
Suffer a terrible fate
Meet
Be in direct physical contact with; make contact;
The two buildings touch
Their hands touched
The wire must not contact the metal cover
The surfaces contact at this point
Meet
Being precisely fitting and right;
It is only meet that she should be seated first
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to meet someone?
Meeting someone involves coming together for interaction or a shared activity.
Can meet and greet be used interchangeably?
No, meeting involves a gathering for a purpose, while greeting is simply the act of acknowledging someone’s presence.
What are examples of formal greetings?
Formal greetings include handshakes, polite words like “Good morning, Mr. Smith,” or other culturally specific gestures.
Is it necessary to greet someone before you meet them?
Yes, greeting is typically expected as a polite acknowledgment before any meeting.
How do digital platforms accommodate meetings and greetings?
Digital platforms often facilitate meetings through video calls and virtual greetings via chat functions or emails.
What is a meet and greet event?
A meet and greet event is designed for people to introduce themselves and interact, often in a casual setting.
What are some informal ways to greet someone?
Informal greetings include saying “Hi,” “Hey,” or using friendly gestures like waving.
How can I improve my greeting skills?
Practice being friendly, making eye contact, and using appropriate verbal and non-verbal cues.
Why is greeting important in customer service?
Greeting in customer service sets a welcoming tone and positively impacts customer experience.
How do greetings differ across cultures?
Greetings vary widely, including bows in Japan, handshakes in many Western cultures, and cheek kisses in parts of Europe and Latin America.
What should I avoid when meeting someone for the first time?
Avoid being overly informal, disrespectful, or distracted during a first meeting.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Plane vs. Plate
Next Comparison
Amigo vs. CompadreAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
