acquiesce

[ ak-wee-es ]

verb (used without object)

, ac·qui·esced, ac·qui·esc·ing.

1. to assent tacitly; submit or comply silently or without protest; agree; consent:

   to acquiesce halfheartedly in a business plan.

   Synonyms: capitulate, concur, accede

   Antonyms: protest, contest

acquiesce

/ ˌækwɪˈɛs /

verb

1. intr; often foll by in or to to comply (with); assent (to) without protest

Usage

The use of to after acquiesce was formerly regarded as incorrect, but is now acceptable

Derived Forms

• ˌacquiˈescent, adjective
• ˌacquiˈescently, adverb
• ˌacquiˈescence, noun

Other Words From

• ac·qui·esc·ing·ly adverb
• non·ac·qui·esc·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of acquiesce¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin acquiēscere “to find rest in, ” equivalent to ac- ac- + quiē- + -sc- inchoative suffix + -ere infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of acquiesce¹

C17: from Latin acquiēscere to remain at rest, agree without protest, from ad- at + quiēscere to rest, from quiēs quiet

Example Sentences

He was force of nature and a force for good that eventually, they had to acquiesce.

From The Daily Beast

Why should we acquiesce in the preparation of our spirits for the worst kind of servility—slavery to fate?

From The Daily Beast

Yet as with cars, the gun industry rejects all responsibility for itself - and gun advocates acquiesce.

From The Daily Beast

Are five crotchety conservative men likely to decide to acquiesce to this change, or fight it?

From The Daily Beast

If you let by without dispute a failure of language you acquiesce in an affront against literary integrity.

From The Daily Beast

The old gentleman pressed us to remain, as the meeting would begin immediately, and we were delighted to acquiesce.

From Project Gutenberg

To be law-abiding means to acquiesce, if not directly participate, in that conspiracy.

From Project Gutenberg

I acquiesce in this hand of fate; for I think another cold just now would just about do for me.

From Project Gutenberg

There was nothing to do but acquiesce; especially as I now was trying to draw from him something of what had brought him there.

From Project Gutenberg

He would acquiesce in the sufficiency of the reason first given, "bodies which contain more particles are heavier."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accede
• cave in
• comply
• concur
• conform
• give in
• go along