acceptance

American  

[ak-sep-tuhns, ik-] / ækˈsɛp təns, ɪk- /

noun

acceptances plural

1. the act of taking or receiving something offered.

2. favorable reception; approval; favor.

3. the act of assenting or believing.

   acceptance of a theory.

4. the fact or state of being accepted or acceptable.

5. acceptation.

6. Commerce.

   1. an engagement to pay an order, draft, or bill of exchange when it becomes due, as by the person on whom it is drawn.

   2. an order, draft, etc., that a person or bank has accepted as calling for payment and has thus promised to pay.

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acceptance British  

/ əkˈsɛptəns /

noun

1. the act of accepting or the state of being accepted or acceptable

2. favourable reception; approval

3. (often foll by of) belief (in) or assent (to)

4. commerce

   1. a formal agreement by a debtor to pay a draft, bill, etc

   2. the document so accepted Compare bank acceptance

5. (plural) a list of horses accepted as starters in a race

6. contract law words or conduct by which a person signifies his assent to the terms and conditions of an offer or agreement

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonacceptance
  noun
• preacceptance
  noun
• reacceptance
  noun
• self-acceptance
  noun
• unacceptance
  noun
• proacceptance
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• acceptances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of acceptance

First recorded in 1565–75; accept + -ance

Explanation

Acceptance is taking something given to you. You might be relieved by your friend's acceptance of your apology for accidentally riding your bike over his foot. An acceptance of someone or something is also an indication that you approve of or believe in it (or them). If you dye your hair green and wear a suit made of bear fur, gaining your grandmother’s acceptance may prove difficult if she's a conservative dresser and an animal lover. In legal terms acceptance is language signifying consent to the terms of an offer, leading to the creation of a contract.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

acceptance acceptances

The European steel and metal processor on Wednesday said it views Worthington Steel’s intentions as broadly positive, but that it is unable to recommend either acceptance or rejection of the offer to shareholders.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Then, they plotted his pivot to ceasefire negotiations, on March 22, his acceptance of one on April 7, and his decision to focus on a memorandum of understanding on May 18.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

BTS's Love Yourself album trilogy's focus on acceptance and healing - and the group leader RM's plea to "use us, use BTS to love yourself"- resonated with millions around the world, and with Yeon-su.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

It’s the result of an organic movement that saw immigrants and their offspring reaching across the border in greater numbers, searching, some said, for acceptance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

He learned to accept things—his mother, the situation, his life, all of it—and with the acceptance, he found that he admired her.

From "The River" by Gary Paulsen

UniCredit received valid acceptances representing a 12.51% stake in Commerzbank at the end of its initial offer period earlier this week, the Italian bank said Friday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

But, with four in 10 universities thought to be in deficit and acceptances only up by 1.4% at "lower tariff" universities, there will be institutions hoping to recruit more students through Clearing.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2025

She is a focused, organized, straight-A student with a string of college acceptances — and an accomplished dancer who recently made her Broadway debut.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 4, 2024

Sibarium insinuates that Lucero has exercised undue influence over residency acceptances.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2024

As all of these financial shenanigans were happening—offers, discussions, negotiations, acceptances, and then rejections—Bobby was going his own way but under the influence and guidance of the Church.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• accession
• acknowledgment
• admission
• adoption
• affirmation
• agreement
• approval
• concession
• recognition