reception

reception — noun

1. a social event held to welcome a particular person or to celebrate a special occ

1.nounB1
Definition

a social event held to welcome a particular person or to celebrate a special occasion, usually with food and drinks

Example

The wedding reception was held in a large tent in the garden.

collocation: wedding reception

Sirin's family hosted a reception for the visiting professor at the city hall.

host a reception for [person]

Common collocations
  • wedding reception
  • hold a reception
  • host a reception
  • attend a reception
  • reception for
Synonyms
  • banquet

    focuses on the meal itself rather than the welcoming purpose

  • party

    more general; a reception tends to be more formal than an ordinary party

2. how the public or a specific group responds to a new product, idea, performance,

2.nounB2
Definition

how the public or a specific group responds to a new product, idea, performance, or artistic work, whether positively or negatively

Example

The new operating system received a lukewarm reception from users.

collocation: lukewarm reception / warm reception

Jason's proposal got a cool reception from the board of directors.

Common collocations
  • warm reception
  • cool reception
  • lukewarm reception
  • mixed reception
  • favourable reception
  • hostile reception
  • receive a... reception
  • get a... reception
Synonyms
  • reaction

    more general; can be physical or emotional; 'reception' specifically involves an evaluative or public dimension

  • response

    focuses on the reply or answer given; 'reception' implies a wider judgment from an audience

  • welcome

    often positive; 'reception' can be positive or negative

Usage Note

Often modified by an adjective such as warm, cold, mixed, lukewarm, favourable, or hostile that indicates the quality of the reaction.

Common Mistakes

The product had a good acceptance from customers.
The product had a good reception from customers.
'acceptance' implies voluntary agreement; 'reception' describes how people reacted to it.

3. the particular way someone is greeted when they arrive somewhere, including the

3.nounB1
Definition

the particular way someone is greeted when they arrive somewhere, including the level of friendliness or unfriendliness shown

Example

The children gave their grandmother a warm reception at the front door.

collocation: give [someone] a [adjective] reception

Beatrix received a chilly reception from the security guard at the gate.

Common collocations
  • warm reception
  • cold reception
  • hostile reception
  • chilly reception
  • friendly reception
  • give someone a... reception
Synonyms
  • welcome

    very close in meaning; 'reception' can be neutral or negative, while 'welcome' leans positive

  • greeting

    focuses on the initial words or gesture; 'reception' covers the broader treatment a person receives

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 2 (PUBLIC RESPONSE): sense 2 describes how people judge a thing or idea, while sense 3 describes how someone is greeted when they appear in person. A warm 'reception' (sense 3) means the person was welcomed cheerfully; a warm 'reception' (sense 2) means the work was praised.

4. the desk or area just inside a building's main entrance, found in hotels, office

4.nounA2
Definition

the desk or area just inside a building's main entrance, found in hotels, offices, and clinics, where visitors check in or ask for help

Example

Please leave your keys at reception when you go out.

collocation: at reception

Nila called reception to ask for a wake-up call at six o'clock.

Common collocations
  • at reception
  • reception desk
  • reception area
  • call reception
  • report to reception
  • leave something at reception
Synonyms
  • front desk

    more common in American English; identical in function

  • lobby

    refers to the whole entrance area; the reception desk is one part of the lobby

Usage Note

In British English, 'reception' alone (without 'desk' or 'area') is commonly used to mean the front desk itself, e.g. 'Please report to reception.' In American English, 'front desk' is more frequent, though 'reception' is also understood.

5. the quality and clarity with which a device receives broadcast signals for radio

5.nounB2
Definition

the quality and clarity with which a device receives broadcast signals for radio, television, or mobile phones

Example

The radio reception is very poor in this underground car park.

collocation: poor reception / good reception

Gabriel climbed to the top of the hill to get better phone reception.

Common collocations
  • good reception
  • poor reception
  • bad reception
  • excellent reception
  • phone reception
  • radio reception
  • TV reception
  • no reception
  • improve reception
  • get reception
Synonyms
  • signal strength

    more technical; refers to the power of the signal rather than the clarity of what is received

  • connection

    broader; includes internet links and other data exchanges

Usage Note

Commonly paired with good, poor, bad, excellent, clear, or patchy. 'No reception' means no signal at all.

Common Mistakes

The signal is very bad in this area.
The reception is very bad in this area.
'signal' is the wave itself; 'reception' is the quality with which the device picks it up.

6. in the UK education system, the initial class of primary school that children en

6.noun
Definition

in the UK education system, the initial class of primary school that children enter when they are four or five years old

Example

My youngest daughter started reception class at the local village school last September.

UK usage: started reception

Children in reception learn basic letters and numbers through play-based activities.

Common collocations
  • start reception
  • be in reception
  • reception class
  • reception teacher
  • reception year

Usage Note

Specific to the British education system. In the UK, compulsory education begins with the 'Reception' year, which follows nursery (ages 3-4) and precedes Year 1. The term is not used in American or most other English-speaking school systems.

7. in American football, a play in which a player catches a ball thrown forward fro

7.noun
Definition

in American football, a play in which a player catches a ball thrown forward from the quarterback

Example

Yuna made a spectacular reception in the end zone to win the game.

The wide receiver leads the team with twenty-seven receptions this season.

collocation: make a reception / lead in receptions

Common collocations
  • make a reception
  • receptions this season
  • touchdown reception
  • record a reception
Synonyms
  • catch

    the everyday equivalent; 'reception' is the technical term used in game statistics and play-by-play commentary

Usage Note

Almost exclusively used in American football commentary and reporting. The player who catches the ball is called a 'receiver.' 'Reception' in this sense is a countable statistic.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All three words describe how people answer or engage with something, but they differ in scope and connotation. Reaction is the broadest term — it covers any emotional, physical, or behavioural reply, often immediate and involuntary (e.g. 'Her reaction to the loud noise was to jump'). Response is more deliberate and usually involves a thoughtful or verbal answer to a specific stimulus (e.g. 'The company issued a response to the customer complaint'). Reception adds an evaluative, audience-oriented flavour: it describes how a group of people judges something publicly, especially a new product, idea, or performance (e.g. 'The album got a mixed reception from critics'). Welcome leans positive — it implies warmth and approval (e.g. 'The community gave the new library a hearty welcome'). For the 'public response' sense of reception, use reaction for an immediate gut feeling, response for a considered answer, and reception for the overall public judgment.

reaction ↗response ↗welcome ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • reception desk
  • reception area
  • reception class

Phrases

  • report to reception
  • leave at reception
  • get reception
  • have reception

Prepositions

  • at reception
  • in reception

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Reception comes from Latin 'receptio' (taking back or receiving), derived from the verb 'recipere' (to take back, receive), which is formed from 're-' (back) and 'capere' (to take). It entered English in the 14th century through Old French 'reception', initially meaning the act of receiving. Over time the word developed specialised meanings: the 'formal party' sense appeared in the 18th century, the 'signal quality' sense emerged with radio broadcasting in the early 20th century, and the 'front desk' meaning grew from the hospitality industry in the 19th century.