receiver
receiver — noun
1. the hand-held piece of a traditional telephone that you lift from its base, with
the hand-held piece of a traditional telephone that you lift from its base, with a speaker at one end for listening and a microphone at the other end for talking
Hyun picked up the receiver and dialled the clinic's number with shaking fingers.
pick up the receiver — typical phrasal collocation
The old office phone had a heavy black receiver connected by a thick, tangled cord.
Isabela placed the receiver back on the cradle and sighed after the long conversation.
replace / place the receiver on the cradle
A layer of dust covered the receiver because no one had used the landline in months.
- pick up the receiver
- replace the receiver
- slam the receiver down
- receiver cradle
- handset
more modern and technical; often used for both cordless and landline phones
Usage Note
This sense applies mainly to traditional landline phones and cordless home phones. Modern mobile phones are not described as having a receiver.
Common Mistakes
2. an electronic device that captures broadcast signals from the air or through a c
an electronic device that captures broadcast signals from the air or through a cable and turns them into sound that comes from speakers or images on a television screen
Ezra connected the satellite receiver to the television but still saw no picture on the screen.
satellite receiver — common compound noun
The radio receiver in the car picked up classical music from a station over two hundred kilometres away.
A digital receiver converts the binary data sent through the cable into clear video and audio signals.
digital receiver — type of signal-conversion device
Darius installed a new receiver on the roof to get better reception for the evening news broadcast.
- satellite receiver
- radio receiver
- digital receiver
- AV receiver
- transmitter
a device that sends signals rather than receiving them
Usage Note
Often used with a modifier that specifies the type of signal — satellite receiver, radio receiver, digital receiver, AV receiver. A 'transmitter' is the opposite device that sends signals out.
Common Mistakes
3. someone given legal authority by a judge to oversee the finances and daily opera
someone given legal authority by a judge to oversee the finances and daily operations of a business that is unable to repay its debts
The court appointed Madison as receiver to sell the company's assets and pay off its creditors.
appoint [someone] as [a] receiver — legal formula
After the factory closed, a receiver was brought in to manage the remaining inventory and pay the workers.
The receiver filed a report with the judge explaining how the business's funds had been spent during the process.
Creditors had no choice but to ask the court to name a receiver for the failing retail chain in Taipei.
name a receiver — formal collocation
- court-appointed receiver
- act as receiver
- name a receiver
- official receiver
- liquidator
a receiver who specifically sells off all assets to close a business completely
Usage Note
Restricted to formal legal and financial contexts. Only used when a court or government authority officially assigns someone this role. Not used for informal financial management.
Common Mistakes
4. someone who regularly buys items that they know were taken illegally, and then s
someone who regularly buys items that they know were taken illegally, and then sells those items to other people for a profit
The pawn shop owner was arrested for acting as a receiver of stolen jewellery and electronics.
receiver of stolen [goods] — legal phrase
Amani was charged as a receiver after police found cameras, phones, and laptops from several burglaries in her flat.
Without a receiver willing to buy the stolen paintings, the whole robbery plan made no sense to the thieves.
Eli denied being a receiver and claimed he had no idea the tools in his shop came from a break-in.
- receiver of stolen goods
- act as a receiver
- fence
informal term for the same role, common in crime stories and police reports
Usage Note
Almost always followed by 'of stolen goods' or used in a context that clearly implies stolen property. A person who unknowingly buys stolen items is not described as a receiver in legal terms.
Common Mistakes
5. a player on the attacking team in American football whose main job is to run dow
a player on the attacking team in American football whose main job is to run down the field and catch the ball thrown forward by the quarterback
Chiara sprinted past two defenders and caught the ball, making her the top receiver of the season.
top / star receiver — common attributive pattern
The receiver ran a perfect route toward the end zone, but the pass was too high for him to reach.
Coaches watched video of every receiver on the team to see who ran the fastest patterns during practice.
Darius played as a wide receiver for three years before switching to the defensive side of the ball.
wide receiver — standard position name
- wide receiver
- star receiver
- the receiver caught the pass
- receiver route
- wide receiver
the official position name; 'receiver' is a shortened form
- pass catcher
descriptive phrase emphasising the main skill of the role
- quarterback
the player who throws the ball that the receiver catches
- defensive back
the opponent who tries to stop the receiver from catching the ball
Usage Note
Typically shortened to 'wide receiver', which is the full position name. This usage is specific to American football and does not apply to rugby, soccer, or other football codes.
Common Mistakes
6. a person, group, or organization that gets something that has been sent, given,
a person, group, or organization that gets something that has been sent, given, or passed to them by another party
The receiver of the award smiled and walked to the stage to give a short speech.
receiver of [the] [something] — general pattern
Hari checked the shipping label to make sure the receiver's address was written correctly before mailing the parcel.
In any email exchange, the sender and the receiver both share responsibility for clear communication.
The foundation acts as a receiver of donations and then distributes the money to local schools and clinics.
- intended receiver
- the receiver of the package
- sender and receiver
Usage Note
This is a very general sense and can apply to physical objects, information, awards, or communication. 'Recipient' is more formal and is preferred in official documents.
Common Mistakes
7. the player on the opposite side of the net from the server whose turn it is to h
the player on the opposite side of the net from the server whose turn it is to hit the ball or shuttlecock back after it has been served in sports such as tennis and badminton
The receiver stood ready at the baseline, waiting for the first serve of the tennis match.
As the receiver, Femi crouched low and prepared to return the powerful serve heading toward him.
as the receiver — appositive phrase identifying the role
Players switch roles between server and receiver after each point in a game of badminton.
A good receiver in tennis watches the server's body carefully to guess where the ball will land.
- the receiver returned the serve
- server and receiver
- receiver's side
- returner
commonly used in tennis and racquet sports for the person who hits the ball back after a serve
- server
the player who hits the ball to start the point
Usage Note
This is a temporary role defined by who is serving at any given moment, not a permanent player position. In baseball, the term 'receiver' is occasionally used as a less common alternative for 'catcher'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/6
All three words refer to someone who gets something from another person, but they differ in formality and scope. 'Receiver' is the most general and neutral — it can describe anyone who receives a package, message, award, or signal. 'Recipient' sounds more formal and is the preferred choice for official contexts such as awards ('the recipient of the Nobel Prize'), legal documents, and ceremonial announcements. 'Addressee' is the most specific: it refers only to the person whose name and address appear on a letter, parcel, or email. For example, if a package is delivered to the wrong house, the person named on the label is the addressee, but the person who actually opens it is the receiver. In everyday situations, 'receiver' often pairs with 'sender', while 'recipient' pairs with 'donor' or 'giver'.
Common collocations
Phrases
- act as a receiver
- appoint a receiver
Prepositions
- receiver of
- receiver for
Etymology
The word 'receiver' comes from the verb 'receive', which entered English from Old French 'receivre', itself from Latin 'recipere' — a combination of 're-' (back) and 'capere' (to take). The '-er' suffix turns the action into a noun meaning 'one who receives'. The oldest uses in English refer to a person who accepts something, and over time the meaning expanded to include electronic devices and specialised legal roles.