receiving end

noun

: the position of being a recipient or especially a victim
—usually used in the phrase on the receiving end

Examples of receiving end in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the mid-1980s, Martin Scorsese got an intriguing piece of fan mail from someone more typically on the receiving end of such letters, movie star Paul Newman. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026 The team on the receiving end would need to prioritize deep diving and correcting the issue immediately. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026 But to be on the receiving end of one on her own show is an incredible shock to her system. — Caroline Framke, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026 Earlier this week, Clément Delangue, the CEO of startup Hugging Face — which was recently on the receiving end of a rogue cyber attack by OpenAI's models — made the somewhat controversial claim that China was winning the AI race. — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for receiving end

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of receiving end was in 1937

Rhymes for receiving end

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Browse Nearby Words

receiving clerk
receiving end
receiving gauge
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Receiving end.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/receiving%20end. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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