receptivity
Americannoun
-
ability, willingness, or quickness to receive or accept ideas, requests, experiences, etc..
The realization of our educational objectives relies on the cooperation of parents, the commitment and competence of teachers, and the receptivity of students.
-
readiness of something to receive something else.
When an embryo is ready for implantation, the procedure is carefully timed to coincide with the window of maximal receptivity in the uterus.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of receptivity
Explanation
Your receptivity is your ability and willingness to take in information or ideas. An audience's receptivity to a stand up comedian helps to make her performance a success. The noun receptivity is useful for describing someone's openness, especially to new ideas or different opinions. An interviewer's receptivity makes it clear that he's really listening to what a job applicant is saying, and the receptivity of movie audiences can result in laughter, applause, and big money made at the box office. The Latin root word of both receptivity and receive is recipere, "bring back, recover, take in, or admit."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I think the principal thing is the idea of doing. It’s about the quality of being there. Receptivity to what is around you is so important.”
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2023
Receptivity so far has been very, very good in terms of our strategy.”
From Forbes • Feb. 21, 2012
Receptivity is not enough, and no longer is the department allowed to wait for things to happen and then figure the best way out.
From Time Magazine Archive
![]()
The Length of the Receptivity Period.—During the summer of 1953 an experiment was conducted to determine more definitely when the pistils became receptive and how long they remain in this condition.
From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 44th Annual Meeting Rochester, N.Y. August 31 and September 1, 1953 by Northern Nut Growers Association
Receptivity is not a single thing; it is a compound rather, a blending of several elements within the soul.
From The Pursuit of God by Tozer, A. W. (Aiden Wilson)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.