received
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Out of the 3,319 shares Mosley received, and the 1,695 shares Romano received, both automatically sold off a portion strictly to cover the resulting tax obligations.
From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026
In most cases, simply inheriting money — whether cash, stocks, real estate or annuities — doesn’t count as taxable income when it’s received.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026
The researchers first alerted OpenAI in May and shared their findings, but received only an automated response from the tech company.
From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026
Police also received several other calls of reports of people being struck at Braddock Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver Boulevard and Canfield Avenue, and Le Bourget Avenue and Culver Boulevard.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026
Joey’s friend Lulu Reyes received the same medal the year before.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
