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receiving end

American  

noun

  1. the position in which one is subject to some kind of action or effect, especially an unpleasant one (usually used in the phrase at oron the receiving end ).

    The corporation is on the receiving end of many complaints about its advertising.


Etymology

Origin of receiving end

First recorded in 1930–35

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.

While many hyperscalers are cutting down their stock-buyback activity in the wake of heightened AI spending, Nvidia is on the receiving end of those AI dollars and could dole some more out to shareholders.

From MarketWatch • May 17, 2026

Billie Eilish told the Hollywood Reporter that she’d been on the receiving end of the concert foul and it’s not fun.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

On the receiving end, the photonic qubits were decoded with an actively stabilized interferometer containing a phase shifter, allowing the system to operate for extended periods without manual adjustment.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2026

Yes, incumbent governments at Westminster frequently find themselves on the receiving end of volleys of opprobrium from the electorate between general elections.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

His eyes gleamed when he said that and I liked being on the receiving end of that look.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

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