reception area

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The part of a building, such as an office or hotel, where visitors are welcomed and helped.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a reception area' or 'two reception areas'.

   Patterns

   • in the reception area
   • at the reception area
   • the main reception area

   Please wait in the reception area until someone comes to collect you.

   The hotel's reception area has a large marble desk and comfortable sofas.

   She left her umbrella at the reception area by mistake.

2. 2nouncountablemedical

   A space in a hospital or clinic where patients arrive and are first assessed.

   Grammar: Countable and often used with 'emergency' or 'accident'.

   Patterns

   • emergency reception area
   • the reception area of a hospital

   The emergency reception area was busy with patients waiting to be seen.

   Signs directed new arrivals to the reception area on the ground floor.

Word forms

Common combinations

main reception area

Visitors should report to the main reception area first.

wait in the reception area

I waited in the reception area for about ten minutes.

reception area desk

The reception area desk is staffed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

hotel reception area

The hotel reception area was decorated with fresh flowers.

Synonyms and how they differ

front desk

Focuses on the desk or counter itself rather than the surrounding space; use 'front desk' when talking about the service point, not the room.

lobby

A larger entrance hall in a hotel or theater; a reception area is usually smaller and more focused on greeting visitors.

Word family

reception noun

The act of receiving or the desk where visitors are greeted.

receptionist noun

A person employed to greet visitors and answer phones.

Commonly confused: reception area or receiving area?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “reception area”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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