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.
"But the extent to which they may cause cancer in their own right has not received as much attention in research," he says.
From Science Daily • Jun. 21, 2026
The city of Imperial sued the county earlier this year, arguing the project should not have received an exemption.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2026
The Ellison deal deserves equal scrutiny and has received far less.
From Salon • Jun. 21, 2026
Tax Court Judge Albert Lauber determined that Coca-Cola’s internal deals were tilted improperly so these overseas operations received profits that should have stayed with the parent company.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026
She received guests in her front parlor with its cranberry glass chandeliers and blue velvet curtains.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
