receive

[ ri-seev ]
See synonyms for: receivereceivedreceivesreceiving on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),re·ceived, re·ceiv·ing.
  1. to take into one's possession (something offered or delivered): to receive many gifts.

  2. to have (something) bestowed, conferred, etc.: to receive an honorary degree.

  1. to have delivered or brought to one: to receive a letter.

  2. to get or be informed of: to receive instructions;to receive news.

  3. to be burdened with; sustain: to receive a heavy load.

  4. to hold, bear, or contain: The nut receives a bolt and a washer.The plaster receives the impression of the mold.

  5. to take into the mind; apprehend mentally: to receive an idea.

  6. to accept from another by hearing or listening: A priest received his confession.

  7. to meet with; experience: to receive attention.

  8. to suffer the injury of: He received a terrific blow on the forehead.

  9. to be at home to (visitors): They received their neighbors on Sunday.

  10. to greet or welcome (guests, visitors, etc.) upon arriving: They received us at the front door.

  11. to admit (a person) to a place: The butler received him and asked him to wait in the drawing room.

  12. to admit into an organization, membership, etc.: to receive someone into the group.

  13. to accept as authoritative, valid, true, or approved: a principle universally received.

  14. to react to in the manner specified: to receive a proposal with contempt;She received the job offer with joy.

verb (used without object),re·ceived, re·ceiv·ing.
  1. to receive something.

  2. to receive visitors or guests.

  1. Radio. to convert incoming electromagnetic waves into the original signal.

  2. to receive the Eucharist: He receives every Sunday.

Origin of receive

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English receven, from Old North French receivre, from Latin recipere, equivalent to re- re- + -cipere, combining form of capere “to take”

Other words for receive

Opposites for receive

Other words from receive

  • in·ter·re·ceive, verb (used with object), in·ter·re·ceived, in·ter·re·ceiv·ing.
  • non·re·ceiv·ing, adjective
  • pre·re·ceive, verb (used with object), pre·re·ceived, pre·re·ceiv·ing.
  • un·re·ceiv·ing, adjective

Words Nearby receive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use receive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for receive

receive

/ (rɪˈsiːv) /


verb(mainly tr)
  1. to take (something offered) into one's hand or possession

  2. to have (an honour, blessing, etc) bestowed

  1. to accept delivery or transmission of (a letter, telephone call, etc)

  2. to be informed of (news or information)

  3. to hear and consent to or acknowledge (an oath, confession, etc)

  4. (of a vessel or container) to take or hold (a substance, commodity, or certain amount)

  5. to support or sustain (the weight of something); bear

  6. to apprehend or perceive (ideas, etc)

  7. to experience, undergo, or meet with: to receive a crack on the skull

  8. (also intr) to be at home to (visitors)

  9. to greet or welcome (visitors or guests), esp in formal style

  10. to admit (a person) to a place, society, condition, etc: he was received into the priesthood

  11. to accept or acknowledge (a precept or principle) as true or valid

  12. to convert (incoming radio signals) into sounds, pictures, etc, by means of a receiver

  13. (also intr) tennis to play at the other end from the server; be required to return (service)

  14. (also intr) to partake of (the Christian Eucharist)

  15. (intr) mainly British to buy and sell stolen goods

Origin of receive

1
C13: from Old French receivre, from Latin recipere to take back, from re- + capere to take

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012