receptionist
gb/ɹɪsˈɛpʃənɪst/ us/ɹɪsˈɛpʃənɪst/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
role
1
front-desk staff member
A receptionist is the person at the front desk who greets people and answers the phone.
Usage pattern:
[the/a] receptionist (at [place])
Common mistake:
Do not confuse receptionist (a job at the front desk) with reception (a party or the area where people are greeted).
Synonyms
front-desk clerk (Common in hotels and businesses; emphasizes the front desk.)
|
reception clerk (Slightly more formal; common in offices and clinics.)
Collocations
a hotel receptionist
|a medical receptionist
|the receptionist at the front desk
|call the receptionist
|speak to the receptionist
|ask the receptionist
|check in with the receptionist
|the receptionist’s desk
|a receptionist job
|receptionist duties
Themes
work
|business
|services
|hospitality
|healthcare
|daily_life
Examples
- Please let the receptionist know you’ve arrived.
- The receptionist at the clinic asked me to fill out a form.
- I called the office, and the receptionist put me through to HR.
Learner examples
- The receptionist is at the front desk.
- I spoke to the receptionist.
Grammar
Dictionary form
receptionist
IPA
GB/ɹɪsˈɛpʃənɪst/
US/ɹɪsˈɛpʃənɪst/
Syllables & stress
re - cep - tion - ist (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cep)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: receptionist
- Plural: receptionists
Expressions
front desk receptionist
1/fɹˈʌnt dˈɛsk ɹɪsˈɛpʃənɪst/
fixed phrase
receptionist at the front desk
a receptionist who works at the front desk
Examples
- The front desk receptionist gave us our room keys.
- Ask the front desk receptionist about late checkout.
hotel receptionist
1/hoʊtˈɛl ɹɪsˈɛpʃənɪst/
fixed phrase
receptionist in a hotel
a receptionist who works in a hotel
Examples
- The hotel receptionist asked for my passport.
- We left our bags with the hotel receptionist until our room was ready.
medical receptionist
1/mˈɛdɪkəl ɹɪsˈɛpʃənɪst/
fixed phrase
receptionist in a clinic
a receptionist in a doctor’s office or clinic
Examples
- The medical receptionist confirmed my appointment time.
- A medical receptionist will call you when the doctor is ready.
receptionist duties
1/ɹɪsˈɛpʃənɪst dˈutiz/
fixed phrase
tasks a receptionist does
the usual tasks of a receptionist
Examples
- The job includes receptionist duties as well as filing and data entry.
- While she was on leave, I handled receptionist duties in the mornings.
receptionist's desk
1/ɹɪsˈɛpʃənɪsts dˈɛsk/
fixed phrase
desk where receptionist works
the desk where the receptionist works
Examples
- Please leave the forms at the receptionist's desk.
- There was a sign on the receptionist's desk saying she would be back at 2 p.m.