receptive

adjective

re·​cep·​tive ri-ˈsep-tiv 

1

: able or inclined to receive

especially : open and responsive to ideas, impressions, or suggestions

2

a

of a sensory end organ : fit to receive and transmit stimuli

b

: sensory

3

of a female animal : willing to copulate with a male

a receptive mare

receptively adverb

receptiveness noun

receptivity

ˌrē-ˌsep-ˈti-və-tē 

ri-

noun

Synonyms of receptive

• open

Examples of receptive in a Sentence

I was happy to be speaking before such a receptive audience.

needed a partner who was receptive to new ways of managing the business

Recent Examples on the Web

The greens are small targets, but the surfaces are kept soft and receptive, to suit less experienced golfers. — Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 7 July 2026

Consumers, meanwhile, appear increasingly receptive to exactly this kind of physical immersion, particularly as digital fatigue intensifies. — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

The court – which has a 6-3 conservative majority − has been largely receptive to Trump’s appeals of challenges to his actions as president, often allowing controversial policies to move forward while they’re being litigated. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Yet Burnham, on course to become the new prime minister in the next three weeks, may be more receptive — one of his key advisers, former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane, has previously supported the idea. — Philip Aldrick, Fortune, 28 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for receptive

• deceptive
• perceptive
• contraceptive
• nociceptive
• proprioceptive

Kids Definition

receptive

adjective

re·​cep·​tive ri-ˈsep-tiv 

1

: able or willing to receive especially ideas

2

: able to receive and pass on stimuli

the receptive part of the retina

receptively adverb

receptiveness noun

receptivity

ˌrē-ˌsep-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

ri-

noun

Medical Definition

receptive

adjective

re·​cep·​tive ri-ˈsep-tiv 

1

: open and responsive to ideas, impressions, or suggestions

2

a

of a sensory end organ : fit to receive and transmit stimuli

b

: sensory sense 1

receptiveness noun

receptivity

ˌrē-ˌsep-ˈtiv-ət-ē, ri- 

noun

plural receptivities