very well received

USAGE SUMMARY

"very well received" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that was accepted or appreciated by a wide audience, or to express that something exceeded expectations. For example: "The new product launch was very well received, and sales have been up since the introduction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's very well received.

The Economist

"She was very well received".

The New York Times

It was very well received.

Independent

Very well received.

The Guardian - Film

He would have been very well received.

The New York Times

Sadly, it wasn't very well received.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I've been very well received at Lille.

The Guardian - Sport

He was very very very well received.

The Guardian

That would have been very well received.

The Guardian

Our messages are very well received.

The Guardian

The music was very well received.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very well received" to highlight a positive reaction to a specific event, idea, or creation. Ensure that the context clearly indicates who is doing the receiving and what is being received.

Common error

Avoid using "very well received" in overly passive constructions that obscure the subject. Instead of "The proposal was very well received", specify who received it well: "The committee received the proposal very well".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very well received" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its positive reception. As noted by Ludwig AI, it conveys that something was accepted or appreciated by a wide audience or exceeded expectations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

22%

Huffington Post

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "very well received" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that has been met with positive approval or enthusiasm. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, noting that it can describe acceptance by a wide audience or indicate that something exceeded expectations. Predominantly found in News & Media and Wiki contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various professional and general communications. When using this phrase, ensure clear context to specify what was received and by whom. Alternatives such as "warmly welcomed" or "favorably received" can offer nuanced emphasis on the type of positive reception.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceptionally well received

Highlights a reception even better than expected.

well-accepted

A more concise and direct way of expressing positive reception.

warmly welcomed

Emphasizes the enthusiasm of the reception.

favorably received

Indicates a positive judgment or evaluation.

enthusiastically embraced

Highlights a strong and eager acceptance.

met with approval

Focuses on the agreement or endorsement received.

positively acknowledged

Emphasizes the recognition and positive regard.

gratefully appreciated

Suggests a sense of thankfulness for the reception.

admirably regarded

Implies a high level of respect and admiration.

cheerfully greeted

Highlights the happiness and joy associated with the reception.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is described as "very well received"?

It means that something was met with a positive reaction, approval, or enthusiasm by an audience, critics, or other relevant group. It suggests that expectations were met or exceeded.

How can I use "very well received" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the reaction to various things. For example: "The new policy was "favorably received" by the employees" or "Her performance was "warmly welcomed" by the audience."

Which is a stronger expression: "well received" or "very well received"?

"Very well received" is the stronger expression because the word "very" intensifies the positive reaction. Saying something was "very well received" emphasizes a higher degree of approval or enthusiasm compared to simply saying it was "well received".

What are some alternatives to saying something was "very well received"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "warmly welcomed", "favorably received", "enthusiastically embraced", or "met with approval".