Receive vs. Receipt: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 30, 2023
"Receive" is a verb meaning to get or accept something, while "Receipt" is a noun referring to a written acknowledgment of having received something.
Key Differences
"Receive" and "Receipt" are interconnected in the English language, especially in contexts involving transactions. "Receive" is a verb, denoting the action of getting, accepting, or taking possession of something. In contrast, "Receipt" is a noun that refers to the physical or digital document acknowledging that a certain item, service, or amount of money has been received.
When one talks about the act of getting a parcel, for instance, they would use the word "Receive." However, once they have the parcel, the paper that often comes with it, confirming its delivery and possibly detailing its contents or cost, is the "Receipt."
"Receive" can be used in various scenarios, not just material transactions. For example, one can receive news, receive a guest, or receive feedback. On the other hand, "Receipt" is specifically associated with a tangible or digital acknowledgment, often financial or transactional in nature.
In some older usages and formal contexts, "Receipt" can also mean the act of receiving, but in modern American English, this usage is rare. Nonetheless, both "Receive" and "Receipt" are rooted in the same etymological background but have evolved to have distinct meanings.
To encapsulate, while "Receive" focuses on the act or process of obtaining or accepting, "Receipt" zeros in on the tangible acknowledgment or proof of what has been received.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb
Noun
Definition
To get or accept something
A document acknowledging something was received
Contextual Usage
Broad (can be used in various contexts)
Typically transactional or financial
Relationship to Other
Act of getting or accepting
Proof or acknowledgment of receiving
Etymological Origin
Latin "recipere" (to take back)
From Old French "receite/recete" (receipt)
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Receive and Receipt Definitions
Receive
To greet or welcome guests.
They received the visitors warmly.
Receipt
A piece of paper confirming payment.
I need this receipt for tax purposes.
Receive
To experience or undergo something.
She received a lot of praise for her work.
Receipt
Proof of a transaction or exchange.
She asked for a receipt after donating money.
Receive
To take or acquire (something given or offered); get or be given
Receive a present.
Receipt
The act of receiving
We are in receipt of your letter.
Receive
To be the person who gets (something sent or transmitted)
Receive an email.
Receipt
The fact of being or having been received
They denied receipt of the shipment.
Receive
(Sports) To catch or get possession of (a pass or a kicked ball, for example).
Receipt
Often receipts A quantity or amount received
Cash receipts.
Receive
To have (a title, for example) bestowed on oneself.
Receipt
A written acknowledgment that a specified article, sum of money, or shipment of merchandise has been received.
Receive
To hear or see (information, for example)
Receive bad news.
Receipt
A recipe.
Receive
To perceive or acquire mentally
Receive a bad impression.
Receipt
To mark (a bill) as having been paid.
Receive
To regard with approval or disapproval
Ideas that were received well.
Receipt
To give or write a receipt for (money paid or goods or services delivered).
Receive
To listen to and acknowledge formally and authoritatively
The judge received their oath of allegiance.
Receipt
To give a receipt.
Receive
To take in and convert (radio waves, for example) into an electrical signal or into an audio or visual output.
Receipt
The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received.
A balance payable on receipt of the goods.
Receive
To experience or be subjected to; meet with
Receive sympathetic treatment.
Receipt
(obsolete) The fact of having received a blow, injury etc.
Receive
To have inflicted or imposed on oneself
Receive a penalty.
Receipt
(in the plural) A quantity or amount received; takings.
This weekend's receipts alone cover our costs to mount the production!
Receive
To bear the weight or force of; support
The beams receive the full weight of the walls and roof.
Receipt
A written acknowledgment that a specified article or sum of money has been received.
Receive
To take or intercept the impact of (a blow, for example).
Receipt
(A piece of) evidence, documentation, etc. to prove one's past actions, accomplishments, etc.
Receive
To be exposed to or withstand
The hillside cottage receives strong winds.
Receipt
(A piece of) evidence (e.g. documentation or screen captures) of past wrongdoing.
Receive
To take in, hold, or contain
A tank that receives rainwater.
Receipt
(archaic in New England and rural US since end of 20th century, elsewhere since middle of 20th century) A recipe, instructions, prescription.
Receive
To admit or accept
Receive new members.
Receipt
(obsolete) A receptacle.
Receive
To greet, welcome, or be visited by
Receive guests.
Receipt
(obsolete) A revenue office.
Receive
To acquire or get something; be a recipient.
Receipt
(obsolete) Reception, as an act of hospitality.
Receive
To admit or welcome guests or visitors
The couple are not receiving this winter.
Receipt
(obsolete) Capability of receiving; capacity.
Receive
To partake of the Eucharist.
Receipt
(obsolete) A recess; a retired place.
Receive
To convert incoming electromagnetic signals into sound, light, or electrical signals.
Receipt
To give or write a receipt (for something).
To receipt delivered goods
Receive
(Sports) To receive a pass or a kicked ball, for example.
Receipt
To put a receipt on, as by writing or stamping; to mark a bill as having been paid.
To receipt a bill
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.
Receipt
The act of receiving; reception.
Receive
(law) To take goods knowing them to be stolen.
Receipt
Reception, as an act of hospitality.
Thy kind receipt of me.
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.
Receipt
Capability of receiving; capacity.
It has become a place of great receipt.
Receive
To incur (an injury).
I received a bloody nose from the collision.
Receipt
Place of receiving.
He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom.
Receive
To allow (a custom, tradition, etc.); to give credence or acceptance to.
Receipt
Hence, a recess; a retired place.
Receive
(telecommunications) To detect a signal from a transmitter.
Receipt
A formulary according to the directions of which things are to be taken or combined; a recipe; as, a receipt for making sponge cake.
She had a receipt to make white hair black.
Receive
(sports) To be in a position to take possession, or hit back the ball.
Receipt
A writing acknowledging the taking or receiving of goods delivered; an acknowledgment of money paid.
Receive
To be in a position to hit back a service.
Receipt
That which is received; that which comes in, in distinction from what is expended, paid out, sent away, and the like; - usually in the plural; as, the receipts amounted to a thousand dollars.
Receive
(American football) To be in a position to catch a forward pass.
Receipt
To give a receipt for; as, to receipt goods delivered by a sheriff.
Receive
To accept into the mind; to understand.
Receipt
To put a receipt on, as by writing or stamping; as, to receipt a bill.
Receive
(telecommunications) An operation in which data is received.
Receipt
To give a receipt, as for money paid.
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.
Receipt
The act of receiving
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.
Receipt
An acknowledgment (usually tangible) that payment has been made
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.
Receipt
Report the receipt of;
The program committee acknowledged the submission of the authors of the paper
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.
Receipt
Mark or stamp as paid
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.
Receipt
A written acknowledgment of having received something.
He kept the receipt for the laptop.
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.
Receipt
A recipe or formula.
The old book contained a receipt for a herbal potion. (Note: This is an archaic use.)
Receive
To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.
Receipt
The act of receiving.
The receipt of your letter made my day. (Note: This is a less common use.)
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.
Receive
To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as, she receives on Tuesdays.
Receive
To return, or bat back, the ball when served; as, it is your turn to receive.
Receive
Get something; come into possession of;
Receive payment
Receive a gift
Receive letters from the front
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
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 take into one's possession something given or sent.
She will receive the package tomorrow.
Receive
To be the recipient of; to get.
He received a prestigious award.
Receive
To catch a transmitted signal.
The radio can receive signals from afar.
FAQs
Can "Receive" relate to non-material things?
Yes, you can receive information, blessings, or feedback.
Does "Receipt" have a verb form?
Yes, "to receipt" means to mark something as received.
Is "Receive" a noun or verb?
"Receive" is a verb.
Can I say "Receive a Receipt"?
Yes, it means to get or be given a receipt.
What is a "Receipt" primarily used for?
A "Receipt" is primarily an acknowledgment of having received something, often a document.
How do I use "Receive" in past tense?
It becomes "received."
Do I always need to "Receive" something to get a "Receipt"?
Generally, a receipt is given after something is received, especially in transactions.
Can "Receive" relate to emotions?
Yes, e.g., "He received a shock."
Is "Receipt" used outside of shopping contexts?
Yes, it can be used in any context where acknowledgment of receiving is needed.
What's the plural of "Receipt"?
It's "receipts."
Is every "Receipt" related to purchases?
Mostly, but it can also acknowledge other things like donations or deliveries.
Can "Receive" be used in formal contexts?
Yes, it's appropriate for both formal and informal settings.
Is a digital confirmation a "Receipt"?
Yes, digital acknowledgments can also be receipts.
Can I "Receive" a service?
Yes, like receiving medical treatment.
Can a message be "Received"?
Yes, messages can be sent and received.
Can "Receipt" mean the act of receiving?
Rarely in modern English, but historically it has had that meaning.
Is "Receive" always about tangible items?
No, you can receive news, a signal, or even a gesture.
Is the "Receipt" of an old recipe book about food recipes?
In older texts, "Receipt" could mean recipe, so it's possible.
Do I always get a "Receipt" when I buy online?
Most online transactions provide digital receipts, but it can vary.
Is keeping a "Receipt" important?
For financial or warranty purposes, it's often crucial.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
