receive Hear it!

receive definition

re·ceive (ri sēv′)

transitive verb received -·ceived′, receiving -·ceiv′·ing

  1. to take or get (something given, offered, sent, etc.); acquire or accept
  2. to encounter; experience to receive acclaim
  3. to have inflicted on one; undergo; suffer to receive a blow
  4. to take the effect or force of; bear all four wheels receive the weight equally
  5. to react to as specified a performance that was well received
  6. to apprehend mentally; get knowledge of or information about; learn to receive news
  7. to accept mentally as authentic, valid, etc.
    1. to let enter; admit
    2. to have room for; hold; contain a cistern receives rainwater
  9. to grant admittance to or greet (visitors or guests)
  10. Radio, TV to detect (a radio or TV transmission) and convert it into sounds or images
  11. Sports to catch (a pass, throw, etc.)

Etymology: ME receiven < Anglo-Fr receivre < OFr < L recipere < re-, back + capere, to take: see have

intransitive verb

  1. to get, accept, take, or acquire something; be a recipient
  2. to admit or greet guests or visitors
  3. Radio, TV to convert incoming electromagnetic waves into sound or light, thus reproducing the sounds or images being transmitted
  4. Sports
    1. to be the team set to return the ball on a kickoff
    2. to be the player or team that returns or attempts to return a serve
receive Idioms

be on the receiving end

Informal
  1. to be the recipient of a gift, or favor
  2. to be the target or victim of an attack
  3. Sports to act as the receiver

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

receive Synonyms

receive

v.

  1. To take into one's charge

    accept, be given, admit, take, get, obtain, gain, inherit, acquire, gather up, collect, reap, procure, derive, appropriate, seize, take possession, redeem, pocket, pick up, hold, come by, earn, take in, assume, draw, arrogate, win, secure, come into*, come in for*, catch*, corral*; see also obtain 1.

    Antonyms discard*, give*, refuse. *

  2. To endure

    undergo, experience, suffer; see endure 2.

  3. To support

    bear, sustain, prop; see support 1.

  4. To make welcome

    accommodate, greet, initiate, induct, install, make welcome, shake hands with, admit, permit, welcome, welcome home, accept, entertain, host, invite in, let in, show in, bring in, usher in, let through, make comfortable, be at home to, bring as a guest into, introduce, give a party, give access to, allow entrance to, roll out the red carpet for, give the red-carpet treatment to, put out the welcome mat for, greet with open arms; see also entertain 2, greet.

    Antonyms visit*, be a guest, call.

receive means to get by having something given, told, or imposed, and may or may not imply the consent of the recipient to receive a gift, to receive a blow; accept means to receive willingly or favorably, but it sometimes connotes acquiescence rather than explicit approval he was accepted as a member, to accept the inevitable; admit stresses permission or concession on the part of the one that receives I will not admit them to my home; take, in this connection, means to accept something offered or presented we can't take money from you


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

receive Usage Examples

Object

  • funding: The scheme is part of York CVS and receives funding from the Early Years and Extended Schools Service and the City of York Council.

Adjective complement

  • more: We receive more than half of our funding from central government, the rest coming from council tax.

Preposition: over

  • hit: During this year the web site has received over 180,000 hits from over 40 countries worldwide.

Preposition: after

  • date: D All applications received after this date will be considered at a later date.

Used with why or when

  • which: Over 70 specific enquiries for future availability were received which are now currently being processed.

Present participle complement

  • regard: Urney Cemetery Councilor Hussey referred to complaints received regarding the removal of the cattle grid at the entrance to the cemetery.

Preposition: in

  • respect: Any monies received in respect of this should be allocated to the general account, and not the estate account.

Preposition: from

  • resident: Complaints were received from former residents and staff and these were discussed with the Appellant who was given an opportunity to resolve the difficulties.

Preposition: by

  • deadline: Priority is given to applications received by the deadline of 15 January of the year of entry.
receive usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

receive quotes

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, whenye departoutofthat house orcity, shake off the dust of your feet.

-Bible (NewTestament)

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

-Bible (NewTestament)

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

-Franklin, Benjamin

receive quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"receive." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/receive>

APA Style

receive. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/receive

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment