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Definition of receive verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

receive

verb
 
/rɪˈsiːv/
 
/rɪˈsiːv/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they receive
 
/rɪˈsiːv/
 
/rɪˈsiːv/
he / she / it receives
 
/rɪˈsiːvz/
 
/rɪˈsiːvz/
past simple received
 
/rɪˈsiːvd/
 
/rɪˈsiːvd/
past participle received
 
/rɪˈsiːvd/
 
/rɪˈsiːvd/
-ing form receiving
 
/rɪˈsiːvɪŋ/
 
/rɪˈsiːvɪŋ/
Idioms
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    get/accept

  1. [transitive] (rather formal) to get or accept something that is sent or given to you
    • receive something
    • I was delighted to receive your letter.
    • She received many messages of support.
    • Police had received information about a planned post office robbery.
    • to receive payment/thanks
    • receive something from somebody/something He received an award for bravery from the police.
    • I received a phone call from her a few weeks later.
    • I received a lovely email from Tina.
    • The programme's website received many complaints from listeners.
    • The service receives no money from the local council.
    Extra Examples
    • Any help or donations will be gratefully received.
    • I just received a call from a concerned parent.
    • I received a package from my mother.
    • They currently receive subsidies from the government.
    • You can expect to receive compensation for all direct expenses arising out of the accident.
    • You might be entitled to receive housing benefit.
    • You will automatically receive updates by text message.
    • I've just received this letter from an old friend.
    • Please let me know as soon as you receive payment.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • regularly
    • automatically
    • currently
    verb + receive
    • be entitled to
    • expect to
    preposition
    • from
    phrases
    • send and receive
    • transmit and receive
    See full entry
  2. treatment

  3. [transitive] to experience or be given a particular type of treatment or attention
    • receive something Her work has not received the attention it deserves.
    • She received urgent hospital treatment.
    • All our staff receive training on dealing with customers.
    • receive something from somebody We have received overwhelming support from the local community.
    • We received a warm welcome from our hosts.
  4. impression

  5. receive something to form an idea or impression of somebody/something as a result of what you see, experience, etc.
    • I did not receive the impression that he was afraid.
  6. injury

  7. [transitive] receive something to be injured in a particular way
    • Several of the passengers received severe injuries.
    • She received only minor cuts and bruises.
  8. react to something

  9. [transitive, usually passive] to react to something new, in a particular way
    • be received + adv./prep. The play was well received by the critics.
    • The speech was warmly received by the audience.
    • be received with something The proposals have been received with great enthusiasm.
    Extra Examples
    • The news was received with dismay.
    • The speech was badly received by Republican leaders.
    • The proposals have been favourably received by most political commentators.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • enthusiastically
    • favourably/​favorably
    • warmly
    preposition
    • with
    See full entry
  10. guests

  11. [transitive, often passive] (formal) to welcome or entertain a guest, especially formally
    • be received (as something) He was received as an honoured guest at the White House.
    • be received with something We were received with great cordiality.
  12. as member of something

  13. [transitive] receive somebody (into something) (formal) to officially recognize and accept somebody as a member of a group
    • Three young people were received into the Church at Easter.
  14. TV/radio

  15. [transitive] receive something to change broadcast signals into sounds or pictures on a television, radio, etc.
    • to receive programmes via satellite
    • a device for sending and receiving electronic signals
    Topics TV, radio and newsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • regularly
    • automatically
    • currently
    verb + receive
    • be entitled to
    • expect to
    preposition
    • from
    phrases
    • send and receive
    • transmit and receive
    See full entry
  16. [transitive] receive something/somebody to be able to hear a radio message that is being sent by somebody
    • I'm receiving you loud and clear.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • regularly
    • automatically
    • currently
    verb + receive
    • be entitled to
    • expect to
    preposition
    • from
    phrases
    • send and receive
    • transmit and receive
    See full entry
  17. stolen goods

  18. [transitive, intransitive] receive (something) (especially British English) to buy or accept goods that you know have been stolen
  19. in sport

  20. [intransitive, transitive] receive (something) (in tennis, etc.) to be the player that the server hits the ball to
    • She won the toss and chose to receive.
    Topics Sports: ball and racket sportsc2
  21. Word OriginMiddle English: from Anglo-Norman French receivre, based on Latin recipere, from re- ‘back’ + capere ‘take’.
Idioms
be at/on the receiving end (of something)
  1. (informal) to be the person that an action, etc. is directed at, especially an unpleasant one
    • She found herself on the receiving end of a great deal of criticism.
See receive in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee receive in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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