Hospitable means welcoming and generous toward guests. A hospitable family makes visitors feel comfortable and cared for, offering food, a place to sit, and friendly conversation. A hospitable host thinks about what would make guests happy, whether that's having snacks ready, making sure everyone has something fun to do, or simply being warm and attentive.

In pioneer times, being hospitable wasn't just polite, it was essential: travelers crossing harsh terrain depended on homesteaders opening their doors and sharing meals and shelter.

You can also describe a place as hospitable. A hospitable climate is one where conditions are favorable for living. Antarctica is inhospitable to most life because of its extreme cold, while a temperate forest is hospitable to countless species of plants and animals.

When someone is the opposite of hospitable, they might be called inhospitable or unwelcoming. A truly hospitable person doesn't just tolerate guests, they actively work to make others feel at home.