Cool MateReceive vs Take him in
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Receive
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Take him in
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Receive
| Receive | Take him in | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈsiːv/","/rɪˈsiːvz/","/rɪˈsiːvd/","/rɪˈsiːvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈsiːv/","/rɪˈsiːvz/","/rɪˈsiːvd/","/rɪˈsiːvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //teɪk hɪm ɪn//🇺🇸 //teɪk hɪm ɪn// |
| Meaning | to get something from someone | To accept someone into your home or group. |
| Example | I was excited to receive the package in the mail yesterday. | After the storm, we decided to take him in until he could get back on his feet. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | regularly, automatically, currently, be entitled to, expect to, from, send and receive, transmit and receive, enthusiastically, favourably/favorably, warmly, with, regularly, automatically, currently, be entitled to, expect to, from, send and receive, transmit and receive, regularly, automatically, currently, be entitled to, expect to, from, send and receive, transmit and receive | take in a guest, take him in warmly, take her in without hesitation |
| Antonyms | give, send, offer | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'receive' with 'recieve' — the correct spelling has 'ie', 'Receive' is not used with 'to' — say 'receive a gift' not 'receive to a gift', Using 'receiving' as a noun — remember it's a verb or part of a verb phrase | Confusing with 'take in' which means to absorb information., Incorrectly using past tense without 'him' (e.g., 'took him in'). |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both written and spoken English. Can be used in formal contexts, such as receiving awards, or informal situations like receiving a text message. Avoid using it in very casual conversations where simpler terms like 'get' might fit better. | Used in informal contexts to describe accepting someone. Not appropriate in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Receive vs Take him in
What's the difference between Receive and Take him in?
Receive: to get something from someone Take him in: To accept someone into your home or group.
Which is more common: Receive and Take him in?
Receive is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Receive: I was excited to receive the package in the mail yesterday. Take him in: After the storm, we decided to take him in until he could get back on his feet.
Can I use Receive and Take him in interchangeably?
Not always. Receive and Take him in are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.