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 a formal apology, the Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullaly said victims experienced "pain and trauma and suffering and fear when you should have received care and compassion".

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

My children received survivor’s benefits until they emancipated.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026

The Department of Recreation and Parks received a $292 million minimum allocation this year, out of a $359 million budget.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026

The business was started in 2025 and received clearance for urology procedures in the U.S.

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

The most royal visitor we ever received was the tax collector, and he never brought a procession.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

Related Words

• accepted
• acknowledged
• collected
• earned