reception

noun

re·​cep·​tion ri-ˈsep-shən 

1

: the act or action or an instance of receiving: such as

a

: receipt

the reception and distribution of funds

b

: admission

reception into the church

c

: response, reaction

the play met with a mixed reception

d

: the receiving of a radio or television broadcast

e

: the catching of a forward pass by a receiver

2

: a social gathering often for the purpose of extending a formal welcome

Did you know?

Reception is the noun form of receive. So at a formal reception, guests are received or welcomed or "taken in". A bad TV reception means the signal isn't being received well. When a new novel receives good reviews, we say it has met with a good critical reception. If it gets a poor reception, on the other hand, that's the same as saying that it wasn't well-received.

Synonyms

• event
• party
• celebration
• bash

Examples of reception in a Sentence

The school held a reception for the new students and their families.

He decided to run for a seat on the school committee only a year after his reception into the community.

Her job is to deal with the reception of donations.

Recent Examples on the Web

The sequential improvement in second-half 2025 and beyond hinges on lean execution of new product launches – which has not consistently happened over the past year – and a positive customer reception. —Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Backup Noah Gray, in his fifth, has improved his numbers every year and his five touchdown receptions last season topped the KC tight ends. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2025

His top target could be Brady Stringham, who led the team in receptions last season with 36 for 493 yards. —Dan Albano, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025

Mattison was tackled in a way that resulted in him falling on his head at the conclusion of a reception from rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, which put the Dolphins on the 3-yard line of a drive that ended with Ollie Gordon II scoring a 1-yard touchdown that put Miami ahead 21-17. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English recepcion, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French reception, from Latin reception-, receptio, from recipere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reception

• reception area
• reception class
• reception room

Rhymes for reception

• conception
• deception
• exception
• inception
• perception
• apperception
• contraception
• interception
• misconception
• misperception
• preconception
• intussusception

Kids Definition

reception

noun

re·​cep·​tion ri-ˈsep-shən 

1

: the act or process of receiving, welcoming, or accepting

a warm reception

2

: the receiving of a radio or television broadcast

3

: a social gathering

a wedding reception