Accept vs. Receive — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 3, 2023
Accept means to consent to receive or agree to something offered, while receive simply means to get or be given something.
Difference Between Accept and Receive
Table of Contents
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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.
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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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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba 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.
