receptive
re·cept·ive/ɹəˈsɛptɪv/adjective
receptive is spelled R-E-C-E-P-T-I-V-E: 9 letters and 3 syllables (re·cept·ive). It appears 2.1 times per million words in written English, the 19,077th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, receptive means “Capable of receiving something” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in receptive?
| Letters | 9: R-E-C-E-P-T-I-V-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: re·cept·ive |
| In writing | 2.1 times per million words; the 19,077th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is receptive?
Receptive appears 2.1 times per million words in written English, the 19,077th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce receptive?
- UK /ɹɪˈsɛptɪv/
- US /ɹəˈsɛptɪv/
Receptive has 3 syllables, split re·cept·ive in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-I_learned_some_phrases-receptive.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with receptive?
3 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as receptive from its last stressed vowel (/ɛptɪv/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of receptive
- more receptive comparative
- most receptive superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does receptive mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Capable of receiving something.
- 2
Ready to receive something, especially new concepts or ideas.
receptive to the idea
- 3
Ready for reproduction; fertile.
- 4
Of, affecting, or pertaining to the understanding of language rather than its expression.
receptive fluency
- 5
Of a female animal (especially a mammal): prepared to mate; in heat, in oestrus.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Receptive in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | rezeptiv, empfangsbereit , aufnahmefähig, empfänglich |
| Portuguese | receptivo, recetivo, recetível, receptível |
| Spanish | receptivo |
| French | réceptif |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.