receive
Definitions
- To be given, sent, or paid something.
- To take, as something that is offered; to accept.
- To take goods knowing them to be stolen.
- To act as a host for guests; to give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's house, presence, company, etc.
- To incur (an injury).
- To allow (a custom, tradition, etc.); to give credence or acceptance to.
- To detect a signal from a transmitter.
- To be in a position to hit back a service.
- To be in a position to take possession, or hit back the ball.
- To be in a position to catch a forward pass.
- To accept into the mind; to understand.
Conjugation
Browse the table or drill it — all tenses, moods, and persons of receive.
Equivalents
Examples
“He received many presents for his birthday.”
“Nothing was too small to receive⟳ attention, if a supervising eye could suggest⟳ improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort⟳ of village bailiff, going his round like⟳ a commanding officer doing billets.”
“In America alone, people spent $170 billion on "direct⟳ marketing"—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last⟳ year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post⟳, only 3% bought anything as a result⟳.”
“He had the offer⟳ of employment, but he would not receive⟳ it.”
“Our hearts receiue your warnings.”
“The idea of solidity we receive⟳ by our touch⟳.”
“[T]he braſen Altar that was before the Lord was too little to receiue the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.”
“And afterwards Thou [God] receivedst Seth and Enoch, and Enoch Thou translatedst; for Thou art the Creator of men, the Fountain of Life, the Supplier of Want⟳, the Giver of Laws, the Rewarder of them that keep⟳ them, the Avenger of them that transgress them.”
“to receive⟳ a lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc.”
“And the barbarous people ſhewed vs no little kindneſſe: for they kindled a fire, and receiued us euery one becauſe of the preſent raine, and becauſe of the cold.”
“In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for the select⟳ circle—a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening for a pipe and a cheerful glass. [...] Strangers might enter⟳ the room, but they were made to feel⟳ that they were there on sufferance; they were received with distance and suspicion.”
“I received a bloody nose from the collision.”
“But because this is oftentimes dangerous, and much hurt⟳ hath been received thereby through casualty of fire, I advise⟳ the sticking four stakes into the earth, at least five feet above the ground [...]”
“For the Phariſes and all the Jewes, except they waſh their hands oft, eate not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come⟳ from the market, except they waſh, they eate not. And many other things there be, which they have⟳ receiued to hold⟳, as the waſhing of cups and pots, braſen veſſels, and of tables.”
“I cannot receive⟳ [translating recevoir] that manner, whereby we establish⟳ the continuance of our life.”
CEFR level
B1
Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B1 vocabulary — intermediate level.
This word is part of the CEFR B1 vocabulary — intermediate level.
Know this word better than we do? Language is a living thing — help us keep it growing. Collaborate with Babel Free