Accept vs. Receive — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 5, 2024

Accept means to consent to receive or agree to something offered, while receive simply means to get or be given something.

Accept vs. Receive — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Accept and Receive

Key Differences

Accept involves a degree of willingness or agreement to take what is offered, implying a choice. Receive is a neutral term that implies taking possession or delivery of something without indicating agreement.

To accept is to acknowledge and consent to something, reflecting a decision or judgment. Receiving can be passive, requiring no active consent or acknowledgment from the recipient.

Acceptance often carries an implication of approval or satisfaction with something received. To receive does not necessarily suggest that what is received is desired or welcomed.

Accepting can also mean to tolerate or endure something, not just to receive. Receiving focuses on the act of getting or being given something, with no further implications.

Accept has a connotation of embracing or taking on, such as accepting a responsibility. Receive is more about the act of getting something, such as receiving a package, with no connotation of responsibility.

Comparison Chart

Implication of choice

Implies a choice to take or agree to something

Implies getting something, no choice indicated

Suggestion of approval

Often suggests approval or willingness

Does not imply approval or willingness

Level of activity

Active; involves a decision or consent

Passive; can occur without consent or decision

Emotional connotation

Can imply satisfaction or tolerance

Neutral, without emotional connotation

Associated responsibility

Can imply taking on responsibilities or commitments

Does not imply responsibilities beyond receipt

Compare with Definitions

Accept

To say 'yes' to an invitation or proposal.

He was thrilled to accept the invitation to the gala.

Receive

To get or be given something.

He received a letter from an old friend.

Accept

To believe in the truth or existence of something.

The jury had to accept the evidence presented.

Receive

To welcome or greet, especially guests.

The hosts receive their guests at the front door.

Accept

To endure a situation without protest.

She learned to accept the challenges of her new role.

Receive

To take or acquire (something given or offered); get or be given

Receive a present.

Accept

To answer affirmatively

Accept an invitation.

Receive

To be the person who gets (something sent or transmitted)

Receive an email.

Accept

To agree to take (a duty or responsibility).

Receive

(Sports) To catch or get possession of (a pass or a kicked ball, for example).

Accept

To receive (something offered), especially with gladness or approval

Accepted a glass of water.

Accepted their contract.

Receive

To have (a title, for example) bestowed on oneself.

Accept

To admit to a group, organization, or place

Accepted me as a new member of the club.

Receive

To hear or see (information, for example)

Receive bad news.

Accept

To regard as proper, usual, or right

Such customs are widely accepted.

Receive

To perceive or acquire mentally

Receive a bad impression.

Accept

To regard as true; believe in

Scientists have accepted the new theory.

Receive

To regard with approval or disapproval

Ideas that were received well.

Accept

To understand as having a specific meaning.

Receive

To listen to and acknowledge formally and authoritatively

The judge received their oath of allegiance.

Accept

To endure resignedly or patiently

Accept one's fate.

Receive

To take in and convert (radio waves, for example) into an electrical signal or into an audio or visual output.

Accept

To be able to hold (something applied or inserted)

This wood will not accept oil paints.

Receive

To experience or be subjected to; meet with

Receive sympathetic treatment.

Accept

To receive officially

Accept the committee's report.

Receive

To have inflicted or imposed on oneself

Receive a penalty.

Accept

To consent to pay, as by a signed agreement.

Receive

To bear the weight or force of; support

The beams receive the full weight of the walls and roof.

Accept

To take payment in the form of

A store that does not accept checks.

Receive

To take or intercept the impact of (a blow, for example).

Accept

(Medicine) To receive (a transplanted organ or tissue) without immunological rejection.

Receive

To be exposed to or withstand

The hillside cottage receives strong winds.

Accept

To receive something, especially with favor. Often used with of.

Receive

To take in, hold, or contain

A tank that receives rainwater.

Accept

(transitive) To receive, especially with a consent, with favour, or with approval.

Receive

To admit or accept

Receive new members.

Accept

(transitive) To admit to a place or a group.

The Boy Scouts were going to accept him as a member.

Receive

To greet, welcome, or be visited by

Receive guests.

Accept

(transitive) To regard as proper, usual, true, or to believe in.

I accept the notion that Christ lived.

Receive

To acquire or get something; be a recipient.

Accept

(transitive) To receive as adequate or satisfactory.

Receive

To admit or welcome guests or visitors

The couple are not receiving this winter.

Accept

(transitive) To receive or admit to; to agree to; to assent to; to submit to.

I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse.

Receive

To partake of the Eucharist.

Accept

(transitive) To endure patiently.

I accept my punishment.

Receive

To convert incoming electromagnetic signals into sound, light, or electrical signals.

Accept

(transitive) To acknowledge patiently without opposition or resistance.

We need to accept the fact that restaurants are closed due to COVID-19 and that no amount of wishing or screaming will make them reopen any sooner.

Receive

(Sports) To receive a pass or a kicked ball, for example.

Accept

To agree to pay.

Receive

To take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, etc.; to accept; to be given something.

She received many presents for her birthday.

Accept

(transitive) To receive officially.

To accept the report of a committee

Receive

(law) To take goods knowing them to be stolen.

Accept

(intransitive) To receive something willingly.

Receive

To act as a host for guests; to give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's house, presence, company, etc.

To receive a lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc.

Accept

(obsolete) Accepted.

Receive

To incur (an injury).

I received a bloody nose from the collision.

Accept

To receive with a consenting mind (something offered); as, to accept a gift; - often followed by of.

If you accept them, then their worth is great.

To accept of ransom for my son.

She accepted of a treat.

Receive

To allow (a custom, tradition, etc.); to give credence or acceptance to.

Accept

To receive with favor; to approve.

The Lord accept thy burnt sacrifice.

Peradventure he will accept of me.

Receive

(telecommunications) To detect a signal from a transmitter.

Accept

To receive or admit and agree to; to assent to; as, I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse.

Receive

(sports) To be in a position to take possession, or hit back the ball.

Accept

To take by the mind; to understand; as, How are these words to be accepted?

Receive

To be in a position to hit back a service.

Accept

To receive as obligatory and promise to pay; as, to accept a bill of exchange.

Receive

(American football) To be in a position to catch a forward pass.

Accept

In a deliberate body, to receive in acquittance of a duty imposed; as, to accept the report of a committee. [This makes it the property of the body, and the question is then on its adoption.]

Receive

To accept into the mind; to understand.

Accept

Accepted.

Receive

(telecommunications) An operation in which data is received.

Accept

Consider or hold as true;

I cannot accept the dogma of this church

Accept an argument

Receive

To take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, or the like; to accept; as, to receive money offered in payment of a debt; to receive a gift, a message, or a letter.

Receyven all in gree that God us sent.

Accept

Receive willingly something given or offered;

The only girl who would have him was the miller's daughter

I won't have this dog in my house!

Please accept my present

Receive

Hence: To gain the knowledge of; to take into the mind by assent to; to give admission to; to accept, as an opinion, notion, etc.; to embrace.

Our hearts receive your warnings.

The idea of solidity we receive by our touch.

Accept

Give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to;

I cannot accept your invitation

I go for this resolution

Receive

To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give credence or acceptance to.

Many other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots.

Accept

React favorably to; consider right and proper;

People did not accept atonal music at that time

We accept the idea of universal health care

Receive

To give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's house, presence, company, and the like; as, to receive a lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc.

They kindled a fire, and received us every one.

Accept

Admit into a group or community;

Accept students for graduate study

We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member

Receive

To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have capacity for; to be able to take in.

The brazen altar that was before the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offerings.

Accept

Take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person;

I'll accept the charges

She agreed to bear the responsibility

Receive

To be affected by something; to suffer; to be subjected to; as, to receive pleasure or pain; to receive a wound or a blow; to receive damage.

Against his will he can receive no harm.

Accept

Tolerate or accommodate oneself to;

I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions

I swallowed the insult

She has learned to live with her husband's little idiosyncracies

Receive

To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.

Accept

Be designed to hold or take;

This surface will not take the dye

Receive

To bat back (the ball) when served.

Who, if we knewWhat we receive, would either not acceptLife offered, or soon beg to lay it down.

Accept

Of a deliberative body: receive (a report) officially, as from a committee

Receive

To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as, she receives on Tuesdays.

Accept

Make use of or accept for some purpose;

Take a risk

Take an opportunity

Receive

To return, or bat back, the ball when served; as, it is your turn to receive.

Accept

Be sexually responsive to, used of a female domesticated mammal;

The cow accepted the bull

Receive

Get something; come into possession of;

Receive payment

Receive a gift

Receive letters from the front

Accept

To agree to take something offered.

She decided to accept the job offer.

Receive

Receive a specified treatment (abstract);

These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation

His movie received a good review

I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions

Accept

To receive something willingly.

They accept donations for the charity event.

Receive

Recieve (perceptual input);

Pick up a signal

Receive

Of mental or physical states or experiences;

Get an idea

Experience vertigo

Get nauseous

Undergo a strange sensation

The chemical undergoes a sudden change

The fluid undergoes shear

Receive injuries

Have a feeling

Receive

Express willingness to have in one's home or environs;

The community warmly received the refugees

Receive

Accept as true or valid;

He received Christ

Receive

Bid welcome to; greet upon arrival

Receive

Convert into sounds or pictures;

Receive the incoming radio signals

Receive

Experience as a reaction;

My proposal met with much opposition

Receive

Have or give a reception;

The lady is receiving Sunday morning

Receive

Receive as a retribution or punishment;

He got 5 years in prison

Receive

Partake of the Holy Eucharist sacrament

Receive

Regard favorably or with disapproval;

Her new collection of poems was not well received

Receive

To be the recipient of a transmitted message.

The radio tower received the distress signal.

Receive

To be on the receiving end of an action or behavior.

The team received criticism for their performance.

Receive

To come into possession of something.

She received her inheritance last year.

Common Curiosities

Is acceptance always voluntary?

Acceptance typically involves a voluntary agreement, but it can also mean to endure something reluctantly.

What does it mean to accept something?

To accept means to agree to take something offered or to consent to a proposal or condition.

Can you receive something without accepting it?

Yes, receiving can be passive and does not necessarily involve the active agreement that acceptance does.

Can you accept an idea?

Yes, to accept an idea means to believe in it or agree with it.

Do both accept and receive imply possession?

Receive directly implies taking possession, while accept implies a willingness or agreement to take possession.

What does it mean to receive something?

To receive means to get or be given something, whether it is a physical object, a message, or a visitor.

Can you accept a person?

Yes, accepting a person often means to welcome them into a group or to agree to start a relationship.

Can a machine receive?

Yes, machines can receive signals or data without the capacity to accept in the human sense.

Is receive always a physical action?

No, you can receive non-physical things like messages, ideas, or emotions.

Does accept have emotional implications?

Accept can carry emotional weight, suggesting approval or resignation.

Can you receive a favor?

Yes, you can receive a favor when someone does something helpful for you.

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Author Spotlight

Written by

Tayyaba Rehman

Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.