receptacle

noun

ri-ˈsep-ti-kəl How to pronounce receptacle (audio)
Definition of receptaclenext
as in container
something into which a liquid or smaller objects can be put for storage or transportation place all wrappers in the trash receptacles at the entrances of the theater

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of receptacle Tests involve collecting small stool samples, placing them in provided tubes or other receptacles and then sending them to labs for analysis. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 27 May 2026 Take Out the Trash Empty garbage bins and recycling from all rooms—not just the kitchen and bath—and don’t forget special receptacles like compost, diaper pails, and litter boxes. — Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2026 Water receptacles across the facility were reported to be dirty, including a bowl shared by 15 goats, a turkey, seven chickens, a llama and a potbellied pig, which contained brownish-black sediment and thick green algae. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026 Bayard, though admitting to gaps in his own reading, sees familiarity with literature as a means of orienting yourself intellectually, whereas Adler understands a student as merely a sedentary receptacle. — Literary Hub, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for receptacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for receptacle
container
Noun
  • Items including coolers, folding chairs, frisbees, balls, metal drink containers and aerosol cans — including spray sunscreen — are prohibited.
    — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • Some Palestinians even try to hang food containers on the ceiling of their tents to keep them out of reach.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of container

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receptacle
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Cite this Entry

“Receptacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/receptacle. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on receptacle

Nglish: Translation of receptacle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about receptacle

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