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

• broad-minded
• open
• open-minded

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

The current Supreme Court, with a conservative supermajority that includes three Trump appointees, has been very receptive to many such challenges. —Nina Totenberg, NPR, 11 June 2024

From a young age, both boys and girls are keenly receptive to societal conditioning. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 10 June 2024

Still, governance in the Boehner era was not a dirty word, and the vast majority of new Republican members were receptive to it. —Robert Draper, New York Times, 30 May 2024

Should Biden fail to get re-elected, conservation advocates are wary that Republican Donald Trump will be less receptive to protecting the Owyhees — or any land. —Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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