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

In some ways, Smith had a blank canvas, able to implement a culture, with Charlotte’s executives receptive to his ideas. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

Democratic lawmakers were more receptive across the board to their message, Honeycutt says, while the offices of many Republican lawmakers echoed talking points pushed by the pesticide manufacturers. —Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 29 Sep. 2025

But with a combative Trump questioning the very purpose of the UN at his speech before the General Assembly, Beijing has an international audience that may be more receptive to its overtures. —Jeffrey Prescott, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2025

While California’s deep-blue electorate is probably more receptive to AOC than most other states, Newsom’s strategy of courting the far-left carries significant risks, both for this vote and for his longer term viability in a presidential general election. —Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 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