Cool MateLet them come vs Receive
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Let them come
Top 2,000 (common)
Receive
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Receive
| Let them come | Receive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lɛt ðɛm kʌm//🇺🇸 //lɛt ðɛm kʌm// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈsiːv/","/rɪˈsiːvz/","/rɪˈsiːvd/","/rɪˈsiːvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈsiːv/","/rɪˈsiːvz/","/rɪˈsiːvd/","/rɪˈsiːvɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Allow others to arrive or approach. | to get something from someone |
| Example | During the open house, we decided to let them come whenever they wanted. | I was excited to receive the package in the mail yesterday. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | let them enter, let them join, let them in | 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 |
| Antonyms | - | give, send, offer |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'let them come' with 'let them came'., Omitting the subject, saying 'let come' instead., Using 'let' incorrectly with a noun instead of a pronoun. | 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 |
| Usage notes | Use in contexts where you are giving permission for someone to enter or join. It is neutral and suitable for most situations. | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Let them come vs Receive
What's the difference between Let them come and Receive?
Let them come: Allow others to arrive or approach. Receive: to get something from someone
Which is more common: Let them come and Receive?
Receive is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Let them come: During the open house, we decided to let them come whenever they wanted. Receive: I was excited to receive the package in the mail yesterday.
Can I use Let them come and Receive interchangeably?
Not always. Let them come and Receive 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.