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

• 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

Though the Dodgers and Betts have spent much of the season saying there is no correlation between the position shift and his offensive decline, Betts was more receptive to the idea Friday. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 20 July 2025

Hoyer is, however, receptive to calling up Caissie in September or if there is an injury to Ian Happ, Crow-Armstrong, Tucker or Suzuki. —Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025

Fans seemed to be receptive to Joyner Lucas’ reply. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 July 2025

China has in recent years forged industrial and defense ties with several North African nations, and Egypt has been cautiously receptive to Beijing’s overtures, frustrated with US pullbacks but wary of growing too close to a country that many in the region view as excessively transactional. —semafor.com, 10 July 2025

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