received

American  

[ri-seevd] / rɪˈsivd /

adjective

1. generally or traditionally accepted; conventional; standard.

   a received moral idea.

---

received British  

/ rɪˈsiːvd /

adjective

1. generally accepted or believed

   received wisdom

---

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 the scam uncovered by the Justice Department, victims received cold calls from individuals posing as staff of large U.S. banks, warning them that their accounts had been used to buy firearms.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

It came just weeks after Pride in London received a £625,000 grant from the GLA to help deliver events between 2023 and 2027.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Till Backhaus, environment minister for the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, said some rescue workers had received death threats.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

Beck received $4 million for his final season at Miami, CBS Sports has reported.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

There was a myth in our family, firmly believed in by all, that Tante Anna received wages for this work—and indeed every Saturday, Father faithfully paid her one guilder.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• accepted
• acknowledged
• collected
• earned