receive
Americanverb (used with object)
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to take into one's possession (something offered or delivered).
to receive many gifts.
- Antonyms:
- give
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to have (something) bestowed, conferred, etc..
to receive an honorary degree.
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to have delivered or brought to one.
to receive a letter.
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to get or be informed of.
to receive instructions;
to receive news.
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to be burdened with; sustain.
to receive a heavy load.
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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.
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to accept from another by hearing or listening.
A priest received his confession.
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to meet with; experience.
to receive attention.
-
to suffer the injury of.
He received a terrific blow on the forehead.
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to be at home to (visitors).
They received their neighbors on Sunday.
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to greet or welcome (guests, visitors, etc.) upon arriving.
They received us at the front door.
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to admit (a person) to a place.
The butler received him and asked him to wait in the drawing room.
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to admit into an organization, membership, etc..
to receive someone into the group.
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to accept as authoritative, valid, true, or approved.
a principle universally received.
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to react to in the manner specified.
to receive a proposal with contempt;
She received the job offer with joy.
verb (used without object)
-
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.
verb
-
to take (something offered) into one's hand or possession
-
to have (an honour, blessing, etc) bestowed
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to accept delivery or transmission of (a letter, telephone call, etc)
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to be informed of (news or information)
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to hear and consent to or acknowledge (an oath, confession, etc)
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(of a vessel or container) to take or hold (a substance, commodity, or certain amount)
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to support or sustain (the weight of something); bear
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to apprehend or perceive (ideas, etc)
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to experience, undergo, or meet with
to receive a crack on the skull
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(also intr) to be at home to (visitors)
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to greet or welcome (visitors or guests), esp in formal style
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to admit (a person) to a place, society, condition, etc
he was received into the priesthood
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to accept or acknowledge (a precept or principle) as true or valid
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to convert (incoming radio signals) into sounds, pictures, etc, by means of a receiver
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(also intr) tennis to play at the other end from the server; be required to return (service)
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(also intr) to partake of (the Christian Eucharist)
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(intr) to buy and sell stolen goods
Usage
Spelling tips for receive The word receive is hard to spell for two reasons. First, it can be hard to remember if the [ s] sound is spelled with a c or an s. Second, the order of the middle vowels can be tricky. Is it ei or ie? How to spell receive: When you receive something you want to C (see) it. This reminds you that it is spelled with a c, not an s. To remember the order of the vowels, keep in mind the classic mnemonic device: I before E except after C. Since receive is spelled with a C, the E goes before the I.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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interreceiveverb (used with object)
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prereceiveverb (used with object)
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nonreceivingadjective
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unreceivingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
receivesimple
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receivessimple
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have receivedperfect
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has receivedperfect
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am receivingprogressive
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are receivingprogressive
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is receivingprogressive
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have been receivingperfect progressive
-
has been receivingperfect progressive
Past
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receivedsimple
-
had receivedperfect
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was receivingprogressive
-
were receivingprogressive
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had been receivingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of receive
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”
Explanation
Receive means to get or accept. On your birthday you might receive many presents. If you have a huge formal party that night, you'll stand in a receiving line, where you'll greet or receive your guests. Unless you're receiving bad news or a stiff reprimand, receive can be pretty great. If one of your gifts is a trip to a spa, you might receive the news with pleasure, and then, when you go to the spa, receive several treatments. And remember, receive is one of those words that you have to say, "I before E, except after C, or when sounding like A, as in neighbor or weigh," before knowing how to spell it.
Vocabulary lists containing receive
American Football, 1st Quarter
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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 2
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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.
See Examples For:
They were the first K-Pop band to receive a nomination at the Grammys in 2021, for Dynamite - their first song performed completely in English.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
About 40,000 of BMW's roughly 85,000 permanent German employees would receive the offers from October, the source said, adding that production line workers would be spared the cuts.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
“I’m filled with pure joy and gratitude knowing my day has come to receive flowers of this magnitude for the legacy I’ve left within the game of basketball and the Sparks organization.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Similar to the SGLI, whoever is listed as the beneficiary will receive this money after.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Cat stretched out her hand to receive the daily treasure.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
The Bangladeshi government has said it will ensure Hasina receives due legal process in all cases against her should she return.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
If Baker receives at least 12 votes from the 16-member committee, he’ll become the first Black manager elected into the Hall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
She now receives $60 a month to help Aran with meals, bathing and other necessities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
If you sell your shares before that date, the buyer receives the dividend as the shares are purchased with the dividend.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
‘The Red Arrow!’ said Théoden, holding it, as one who receives a summons long expected and yet dreadful when it comes.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
"I sincerely hope he proves those concerns unfounded, because the Intelligence Community deserves steadier leadership than it has received in recent months," Warner said in a statement after the vote.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Those who received top marks are praised while negative reviews can have an impact on their bonuses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
The U.S. cattle market was valued at about $113 billion in 2024, based on gross revenue ranchers received from cattle sales.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
It's clear from the data that 25-year-olds who are in work are likely to be earning more than their parents were at that age, and a lot more than their grandparents received.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
This letter was not the only mail she had received.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Under the scheme, women can visit their local pharmacy and have a confidential consultation with a pharmacist or trained pharmacy technician, before receiving the medication on the same day.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Kelmar also suggested making sure that the healthcare provider will zero out your balance after receiving a negotiated amount.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
“The local organizations receiving these tickets today are groups that we work closely with year-round to uplift and support our neighbors all across the Los Angeles region,” Rams president Kevin Demoff said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
The company that got hacked by a rogue version of ChatGPT has revealed what it was like to be on the receiving end of the world's first fully-autonomous AI hack.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
In 6/8, there are six beats in a measure with each eighth note receiving one beat.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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.
