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

• affair
• bash
• binge
• blast
• blowout
• do
• event
• fete
• fête
• function
• get-together
• party
• shindig

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

April 5 through July 27, with an exhibition reception from 5-7 p.m. May 3. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025

Britt has been targeted on 56 passes in his career and allowed 46 receptions for 453 yards (a 9.8 average), with no interceptions but just one TD allowed. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025

The agency has reduced staff by more than 12 percent in recent months, and managers at field offices have reportedly had to take on reception duties because of shortfalls in personnel. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025

Scores of media companies buy tables at the annual dinner, and many hold their own receptions surrounding the event. —Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 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