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

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

Yet, say some Netanyahu supporters, the prime minister is less than receptive now to Biden administration appeals and is biding his time until U.S. elections in November. —Shoshanna Solomon, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2024

The walkouts would not target all campuses at once, Jaime said, but one by one based on how receptive administrations are to pro-Palestinian activists. —Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2024

While the vulnerable Moon in your self-worth zone clashes against powerful Saturn in your 8th House of Shared Resources, you may be stuck dealing with a rigid system that isn’t receptive to your unique needs. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 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