# received

/ɹəˈsivd/ (US) · /ɹɪsˈiːvd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/received
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to get or accept

verb · CEFR A2

the past tense of 'receive', used when you got something that was sent or given to you.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'receive', indicating the act of taking delivery of something sent or given.

- She received a beautiful letter from her friend yesterday morning.
- The department received the revised budget proposal late on Tuesday, leaving the committee with very little time to review the figures before the meeting.

### 2. generally accepted

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

describes an idea or belief that most people think is correct or true.

For teachers: widely accepted as authoritative, standard, or correct within a particular society or field.

- The received opinion at the time was that the earth was flat.
- The professor challenged the received wisdom of the era, arguing that the economic data actually suggested a much slower recovery than previously thought.

Usage: Often appears in the phrase 'received wisdom'.

## Examples

- I received an email from my boss this morning.
- The charity received several large donations after the local news reported on their work.
- Although the manuscript was finished in June, the author only received the final proofs for review late in December due to a series of administrative delays.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.