Showing results for "received"

• past participle of receive.
• past tense form of receive.

received

American  

[ri-seevd] / rɪˈsivd /

adjective

1. generally or traditionally accepted; conventional; standard.

   a received moral idea.

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received British  

/ rɪˈsiːvd /

adjective

1. generally accepted or believed

   received wisdom

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Other Word Forms

• well-received
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of received

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; receive + -ed ²

Explanation

Received is an adjective that refers to something that is largely accepted as true or good. It’s also the past participle of the verb receive. If you rely on received wisdom, you might not ever come up with an original idea. Received, meaning “generally accepted as true or worthy,” was first recorded in the fifteenth century as the past participle adjective of receive, a verb meaning “accept.” So, that which has been accepted, has been received, or noted as correct or good. More specifically, received can be used to refer to established truths, like that failing to drink enough water can lead to dehydration. It's one of those words that actually follows the rule "i before e except after c."

Example Sentences

In 2006, O'Brien received £300,000 in a settlement with South Wales Police.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

South Korea’s stock market has received a boost this year from AI-driven demand for chips, as the global AI infrastructure build-out continues.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026

He received full scholarships to New York University and Harvard Law School and graduated with honors from both.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2026

"Many of the votes that Abelardo received are not genuine," Isabella Giraldo, who works in her family business, told AFP.

From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026

Three of us now shared this single cot as the crowded camp daily received new arrivals.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• accepted
• acknowledged
• collected
• earned