receive congratulations

USAGE SUMMARY

'receive congratulations' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to acknowledge that someone has been congratulated or will be congratulated. For example, "The newlyweds will receive congratulations from friends and family on their special day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Thomas would receive congratulations as well as autograph requests.

The New York Times - Sports

Health workers who get 500 text "votes" receive congratulations and a status-conveying badge.

The Guardian

After the ceremony, Mr. Cuomo and his family remained at the podium to receive congratulations from guests.

The New York Times

Other major professional sports teams who won championships last year, though, including the Patriots, Astros and Penguins, made the traditional trips to receive congratulations from the president.

The Washington Post

White supremacy in America won't let our black young children be kids, swim or receive congratulations while graduating without having the breath, light and life smothered right out of them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Dr. Bode, director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, seems to have hit the right nail on the head when he said to a Herald correspondent that he "would be better prepared to receive congratulations when once the picture was safe in his gallery".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Phillips made a tough scoop at first base in the bottom of the eighth inning, then pumped his fist and received congratulations from teammates who had not had much reason to congratulate him.

The New York Times - Sports

"This cabinet was still receiving congratulations.

The New York Times

Still, Torre approached the mound and removed Lilly, who received congratulations in the dugout.

The New York Times - Sports

When the woman looked up, he was standing with his shirt off, receiving congratulations.

The New Yorker

There we spotted JOEL SILVER, the bearded, hefty producer, happily receiving congratulations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "receive congratulations" when you want to emphasize the act of someone being formally or publicly acknowledged for an achievement or milestone.

Common error

Avoid using "receive congratulations" in informal settings. Phrases like "thanks for the congrats" are more appropriate for casual communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "receive congratulations" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the act of being acknowledged or praised for an accomplishment. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, as demonstrated by the numerous examples provided.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "receive congratulations" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig AI, indicating the act of being acknowledged for an achievement. While not exceedingly common, its usage is primarily found in news and media contexts and maintains a neutral to formal tone. Alternatives such as "accept congratulations" or "be lauded" offer nuanced options for expression. When using the phrase, consider the context and ensure it aligns with the level of formality required. Remember that while receiving congratulations is pleasant, humility is key to maintain good relations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accept congratulations

Replaces "receive" with "accept", indicating a conscious decision to acknowledge the congratulations.

be congratulated

Changes the verb to passive voice, focusing on the action being done to the subject.

get congratulations

Uses a more informal verb, "get", to express receiving congratulations.

be lauded

Replaces the entire phrase with a single verb meaning to praise highly.

be commended

Uses a more formal verb, "commended", to suggest receiving praise or approval.

hear praise

Focuses on the act of hearing positive feedback, rather than receiving a specific congratulatory message.

garner praise

Indicates an effort that resulted in gaining congratulations.

be feted

Implies a celebration is given in one's honor, which includes receiving congratulations.

be honored

Shifts focus to the honor received, of which congratulations is one aspect.

enjoy accolades

Suggests ongoing praise and recognition, which can include congratulations.

FAQs

How can I use "receive congratulations" in a sentence?

You can use "receive congratulations" to describe someone being acknowledged for an achievement, such as "The team will "receive congratulations" at the awards ceremony."

What's a more formal alternative to "receive congratulations"?

A more formal alternative would be "accept accolades" or "be lauded", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "receive congratulations" or "received congratulations"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "Receive congratulations" is present tense, used for ongoing or future events. "Received congratulations" is past tense, used for completed events.

What can I say instead of "I received congratulations" to sound more humble?

You could say "I was "grateful for the support"" or "I appreciated the kind words" to express humility while acknowledging the congratulations.