Standard Lemma guide

receptiveness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

the characteristic of being receptive

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

willingness or readiness to receive (especially impressions or ideas)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he was testing the government's receptiveness to reform
  • this receptiveness is the key feature in oestral behavior, enabling natural mating to occur
  • their receptivity to the proposal

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: receptivity, openness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: willingness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin receptus Latin -īvus Medieval Latin receptivusbor. Middle English receptive English receptive Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English receptiveness From receptive + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: réceptivité — the characteristic of being receptive
  • Irish: gabhálacht — the characteristic of being receptive
  • Italian: ricettività — the characteristic of being receptive
  • Swedish: receptivitet — the characteristic of being receptive