To receive or get something (e.g. an item, money, information).
荷物は私が玄関で受けることになっている。
I'm supposed to receive the package at the door.
彼は賞金を受けて喜んだ。
He was happy to receive the prize money.
メールを受けたらすぐに返事してください。
Please reply as soon as you receive the email.
To catch something (e.g. a ball).
キャッチャーが高く上がったフライをうまく受けた。
The catcher skillfully caught the high fly ball.
ボールを受けるときはよく目で追ってから手を出す。
When catching a ball, watch it carefully with your eyes before reaching out.
To be struck by or to receive the effect of something (wind, waves, sunlight, etc.).
この家は海に面していて強い波を受けることがある。
This house faces the sea and is sometimes hit by strong waves.
南向きの窓は午前中にたくさんの日光を受ける。
South-facing windows receive a lot of sunlight in the morning.
To sustain damage, incur a loss, suffer an injury, or be affected by something.
台風で多くの家屋が被害を受けた。
Many houses suffered damage from the typhoon.
その企業は不正発覚で信用を受け、株価が下がった。
The company suffered reputational damage after the scandal, and its stock fell.
彼女は両親の影響を受けて絵を描くようになった。
She began painting under the influence of her parents.
To undergo (e.g. surgery), to take (a test), or to accept (a challenge).
彼は明日、盲腸の手術を受ける予定だ。
He is scheduled to undergo appendix surgery tomorrow.
来月、日本語能力試験を受けるつもりです。
I plan to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test next month.
彼はその挑戦を快く受けた。
He gladly accepted the challenge.
To be given or bestowed something such as life, talent, or a blessing (often literary; sometimes written 享ける).
彼は祖父から勇気を受けて育ったと言われる。
It is said he was raised having inherited courage from his grandfather.
古い祝辞には『恩恵を享ける』という表現が見られる。
In old benedictions you can see the phrase 'to receive blessings' (享ける).
Colloquial: to find something funny / to be amused by something (often written ウケる).
そのギャグ、めっちゃウケたよ！
That joke was hilarious!
彼の天然ボケはクラスでいつもウケる。
His natural comic air always goes down well in class.
投稿した動画が思っていたよりウケて驚いた。
I was surprised the video I posted was more popular/funny than I expected.
To follow, succeed, or be descended from; to inherit or take up a position or tradition.
彼は父の後を受けて会社の社長になった。
He succeeded his father as president of the company.
王位を受けた若い国王は改革を進めた。
The young king who took the throne carried out reforms.
To face a direction (south, east, etc.) — used of buildings or sites indicating orientation.
この家は南を受けるように設計されているので日当たりがいい。
This house is designed to face south, so it gets good sunlight.
窓が南の景色を受けるため、冬でも暖かい。
Because the windows face the south view, it's warm even in winter.
In linguistics: to be modified by (e.g. a word being modified by another element).
この名詞句は形容詞を受けることで意味が特定される。
This noun phrase is specified in meaning by being modified by an adjective.
動詞がどの助詞を受けるかで文の解釈が変わる。
Which particle a verb takes changes the interpretation of the sentence.
To obtain (a pawned item, etc.) by paying a fee (an older/specialized usage; often appears in compounds).
質屋に預けた品を請け出すのに手数料が必要だった。
A fee was required to redeem the item I left at the pawnshop.
To be well-received; to become popular; to go down well (colloquial: ウケる).
新しい映画は若者を中心にウケている。
The new movie is popular, especially among young people.
彼女の冗談は会議ではあまりウケなかった。
Her joke didn't go over very well at the meeting.
そのコントがSNSでウケて、一気に話題になった。
That skit became a hot topic after it went viral on social media.