RECEIVE

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does receive mean? 

• RECEIVE (verb)
  The verb RECEIVE has 13 senses:

1. get something; come into possession of

2. receive a specified treatment (abstract)

3. register (perceptual input)

4. go through (mental or physical states or experiences)

5. express willingness to have in one's home or environs

6. accept as true or valid

7. bid welcome to; greet upon arrival

8. convert into sounds or pictures

9. experience as a reaction

10. have or give a reception

11. receive as a retribution or punishment

12. partake of the Holy Eucharist sacrament

13. regard favorably or with disapproval

  Familiarity information: RECEIVE used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RECEIVE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Get something; come into possession of

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

have; receive

Context example:

receive letters from the front

Hypernyms (to "receive" is one way to...):

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Verb group:

accept; have; take (receive willingly something given or offered)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "receive"):

take in; take up (accept)

hustle (get by trying hard)

accept (receive (a report) officially, as from a committee)

fence (receive stolen goods)

graduate (receive an academic degree upon completion of one's studies)

inherit (receive by genetic transmission)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s something from somebody

Sentence examples:

The banks receive the check
They receive more bread
They receive the money

Derivation:

receiver (a person who receives something)

reception (the act of receiving)

recipient (a person who receives something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Receive a specified treatment (abstract)

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

find; get; incur; obtain; receive

Context example:

I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions

Hypernyms (to "receive" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Verb group:

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "receive"):

take (ascertain or determine by measuring, computing or take a reading from a dial)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Register (perceptual input)

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

pick up; receive

Context example:

pick up a signal

Hypernyms (to "receive" is one way to...):

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "receive"):

hear (receive a communication from someone)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They receive the information to them

Derivation:

receiver (set that receives radio or tv signals)

receptive (of a nerve fiber or impulse originating outside and passing toward the central nervous system)

receptor (an organ having nerve endings (in the skin or viscera or eye or ear or nose or mouth) that respond to stimulation)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Go through (mental or physical states or experiences)

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

experience; get; have; receive

Context example:

have a feeling

Hypernyms (to "receive" is one way to...):

undergo (pass through)

"Receive" entails doing...:

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "receive"):

get; have; suffer; sustain (undergo (as of injuries and illnesses))

take (experience or feel or submit to)

horripilate (have one's hair stand on end and get goosebumps)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Express willingness to have in one's home or environs

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

invite; receive; take in

Context example:

The community warmly received the refugees

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "receive"):

welcome (receive someone, as into one's house)

absorb (assimilate or take in)

see (receive as a specified guest)

assume (take up someone's soul into heaven)

induct (admit as a member)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot receive Sue

Derivation:

receptive (open to arguments, ideas, or change)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Accept as true or valid

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

He received Christ

Hypernyms (to "receive" is one way to...):

accept (consider or hold as true)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

receptive (open to arguments, ideas, or change)

receptive (ready or willing to receive favorably)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Bid welcome to; greet upon arrival

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

receive; welcome

Hypernyms (to "receive" is one way to...):

greet; recognise; recognize (express greetings upon meeting someone)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 8

Meaning:

Convert into sounds or pictures

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

receive the incoming radio signals

Hypernyms (to "receive" is one way to...):

convert (change the nature, purpose, or function of something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

receiver (set that receives radio or tv signals)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Experience as a reaction

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

encounter; meet; receive

Context example:

My proposal met with much opposition

Hypernyms (to "receive" is one way to...):

experience; have (undergo)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

receptive (open to arguments, ideas, or change)

receptive (ready or willing to receive favorably)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Have or give a reception

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

The lady is receiving Sunday morning

Hypernyms (to "receive" is one way to...):

celebrate; fete (have a celebration)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

reception (a formal party of people; as after a wedding)

Sense 11

Meaning:

Receive as a retribution or punishment

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

get; receive

Context example:

He got 5 years in prison

Verb group:

catch; get (suffer from the receipt of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 12

Meaning:

Partake of the Holy Eucharist sacrament

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Hypernyms (to "receive" is one way to...):

partake; touch (consume)

Domain category:

Christian religion; Christianity (a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sense 13

Meaning:

Regard favorably or with disapproval

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

Her new collection of poems was not well received

Hypernyms (to "receive" is one way to...):

consider; reckon; regard; see; view (deem to be)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

receptive (open to arguments, ideas, or change)

receptive (ready or willing to receive favorably)

 Context examples 

This account of you we have from all quarters received.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She called out: “Good morning,” but received no answer; so she went to the bed and drew back the curtains.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

During the winter, the Arctic receives very little sunlight and reflects less light.

(Earthshine, NASA)

Mr. Rushworth was at the door to receive his fair lady; and the whole party were welcomed by him with due attention.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

As Jo received her good-night kiss, Mrs. March whispered gently, "My dear, don't let the sun go down upon your anger. Forgive each other, help each other, and begin again tomorrow."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"Ay," he answered, his deep voice as a response to her thin one, "may God receive me, a repentant sinner."

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

"Let me have your name, and I will ask Glinda if she will receive you."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Their collective appearance had left on me an impression of high- born elegance, such as I had never before received.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

If you’ve been working in a group, plans and approvals will suddenly move forward within days of January 10—watch the phone calls you receive and what you are hearing.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

"It is worth noting," Challenger continued, that our young friend has received an undoubted stab, while Lord John's coat could only have been torn by a bite.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)