reception

noun

re·​cep·​tion ri-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce reception (audio)
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.

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 Allen has topped 1,000 yards and 100 receptions in a single season five times each and is coming off his most productive year yet, despite missing the final four games because of a heel injury. Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 The reception honored the fashion titan and costume designer. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 14 Mar. 2024 Before the reception, Brigitte told Paris Match that Emmanuel thanked her children for supporting their relationship. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 While the panel discussion tackled several intriguing aspects about the film’s creation and reception (some highlights below), Judge revealed a few extra tidbits at the post-panel reception at Austin’s The Statesman restaurant. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 The bride wore her mother’s Vera Wang wedding gown for the ceremony and the reception, and QR codes on every seat provided guests with a link to subscribe to the Times for full games access. Cora Frazier, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 The event begins at 4:30 with a cocktail reception followed by the 6 p.m. tasting menu with wine pairings. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024 What about Moonlite Gardens? Moonlite Gardens, a dance hall built in the 1920s at Coney Island, played host to generations of school dances, receptions and concerts. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 9 Mar. 2024 It will be preceded by a red carpet and VIP reception on the Ray Charles Terrace at the Grammy Museum. Paul Grein, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reception.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of reception was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near reception

Cite this Entry

“Reception.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reception. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reception

noun
re·​cep·​tion ri-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce reception (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on reception

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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