receive

[ ri-seev ]

/ rɪˈsiv /

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See synonyms for: receive / received / receives / receiving on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), re·ceived, re·ceiv·ing.

to take into one's possession (something offered or delivered): to receive many gifts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

to meet with; experience: to receive attention.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

to receive something.

to receive visitors or guests.

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

to receive the Eucharist: He receives every Sunday.

OTHER WORDS FOR receive

11 admit, entertain, welcome.

See synonyms for receive on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR receive

1 give.

See antonyms for receive on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of receive

1250–1300; Middle English receven<Old North French receivre<Latin recipere, equivalent to re-re- + -cipere, combining form of capere to take

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, adjectivepre·re·ceive, verb (used with object), pre·re·ceived, pre·re·ceiv·ing.un·re·ceiv·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use receive in a sentence

There was a lot of positive feedback from people interested in non-gender binary people.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Training in Taji began Dec. 20; a week later, 218 Iraqis began receiving training in Anbar.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’|Nancy A. Youssef|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Of the three nominated, Webster did the best, receiving 12 votes, Gohmert and Yoho received three and two votes, respectively.
Democrats Accidentally Save Boehner From Republican Coup|Ben Jacobs, Jackie Kucinich|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She ultimately ditched JSwipe after about a week and found her current, non-Jewish, boyfriend on OkCupid.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST

An atheist counsels his fellow non-believers on how not to talk to people of faith.
The Case Against In-Your-Face Atheism|Steve Neumann|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The expatriated ex-rebels became alarmed by the non-receipt of the indemnity instalment and the news from their homes.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
He also states that the Audiencia is virtually non-existent, and so there is no high court in which justice may be sought.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
A small boy of three years and nine months on receiving from his nurse the familiar order, "Come here!"
Children's Ways|James Sully
De moi, je ne say qu'en dire, d'autant que je ne veux affirmer ny le si ny le non en ce dont je n'ay vidence.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
My No. 4239 addressed to Maxwell and repeated to you was sent before receiving your telegram under reply.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for receive

receive

/ (rɪˈsiːv) /

verb (mainly tr)

to take (something offered) into one's hand or possession

to have (an honour, blessing, etc) bestowed

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

to be informed of (news or information)

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

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

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

to apprehend or perceive (ideas, etc)

to experience, undergo, or meet withto receive a crack on the skull

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

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

to admit (a person) to a place, society, condition, etche was received into the priesthood

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

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

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

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

(intr) mainly British to buy and sell stolen goods

Word Origin for receive

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

receive

OTHER WORDS FOR receive

OPPOSITES FOR receive

Origin of receive

OTHER WORDS FROM receive

Words related to receive

How to use receive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for receive

Word Origin for receive