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

• broad-minded
• open
• open-minded

Example Sentences

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

Being an active listener means empathizing with their feelings, understanding their point of view, being receptive to constructive criticism, and learning from your mistakes instead of repeating them in the future. —Ingrid Christensen, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2023

Some advocates are also receptive to building in parameters. —Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Mar. 2023

But railroads found that regulators in the Trump administration were receptive to their arguments of rolling back rules. —Ian Duncan, Luz Lazo And Michael Laris, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Feb. 2023

This may have made Mr. Yamagami’s mother receptive to the proselytizing of the religious group, known then as the Unification Church and now as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, the uncle said. —Miho Inada, WSJ, 29 July 2022

And those are good indicators that fans who are exposed to MLS are receptive to the product. —Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023

Several lobbyists interviewed for this story described Stephens as being receptive to hearing from lobbyists, while Merrin, whose backers were more ideologically driven, is not. —Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 8 Jan. 2023

And the Raiders now have a coach — Josh McDaniels — who is likely receptive to having him at quarterback. —Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Dec. 2022

Niederhauser said he’s been working with the governor and legislative leaders, who have been receptive to his pitch. —Blake Apgar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 Dec. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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