receive

[ ri-seev ]

/ rɪˈsiv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR receive 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.

Nearby words

recd., recede, receipt, receiptor, receivable, receive, received, received pronunciation, received standard, receiver, receiver general

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

SYNONYMS FOR receive

11 admit, entertain, welcome.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR receive ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR receive

1 give.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR receive ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsin·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. 2019

Examples from the Web for receive

The younger man rolled down his window to receive the approaching Williams “to see what he wanted.”
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault|M.L. Nestel|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The defense team expects to receive all of the documents and evidence in the coming week.
The Strange Case of the Christian Zionist Terrorist|Creede Newton|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And I was lucky enough to receive an invitation to stay at Easter Elchies House, the spiritual home at The Macallan.
A Whisky Connoisseur Remembers That First Sip of The Macallan||December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This week, on December 10th, Human Rights Day, she will receive the Nobel Prize—the youngest person ever to be honored.
Promoting Girls’ Education Isn’t Enough: Malala Can Do More|Paula Kweskin|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Perhaps this year, the old saying should be amended to: to share is better than to receive.
One of a Kind Gifts Are Only a Neighbor Away|Lawrence Ferber|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He had written to Maggie, and been surprised and hurt to receive no reply.
Bob, Son of Battle|Alfred Ollivant
Doesn't this urge you to pity, so that you will beg His Holiness for pardon, beg him to receive us?
Three Plays|Luigi Pirandello
Claudius himself came for a brief visit to receive the congratulations of the army on the victory which his lieutenant had won.
A Student's History of England, v. 1 (of 3)|Samuel R. Gardiner.
It has made me quite as happy to get this barge for you, and to make it comfortable, as it can do you both to receive it.
The Lost Heir|G. A. Henty
It has been custom, both here and in France, for a long time back, to receive such persons unofficially.
Continental Monthly, Vol. I. February, 1862, No. II.|Various

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

Word Origin and History for receive

receive

c.1300, from Old North French receivre (Old French recoivre) "seize, take hold of, pick up; welcome, accept," from Latin recipere "regain, take back, bring back, carry back, recover; take to oneself, take in, admit," from re- "back," though the exact sense here is obscure (see re-) + -cipere, comb. form of capere "to take" (see capable). Radio and (later) television sense is attested from 1908. Related: Received; receiving.

receive

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

verb (used without object), re·ceived, re·ceiv·ing.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of receive

Examples from the Web for receive

British Dictionary definitions for receive

receive

verb (mainly tr)

Word Origin for receive

Word Origin and History for receive

receive