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accept

[ ak-sept ]
/ ækˈsɛpt /
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See synonyms for: accept / accepted / accepting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to accept an invitation, gift, position, etc. (sometimes followed by of).
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Origin of accept

1350–1400; Middle English accepten<Middle French accepter<Latin acceptare, equivalent to ac-ac- + -cep- take, combining form of cap- + -t- frequentative suffix

words often confused with accept

The verbs accept and except are sometimes confused because of their similar pronunciations, especially in rapid speech. Accept means “to take or receive” ( I accept this trophy ), while except means “to exclude” ( Certain types of damage are excepted from coverage in this insurance policy ).

OTHER WORDS FROM accept

pre·ac·cept, verbre·ac·cept, verb (used with object)

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH accept

accept , except (see usage note at the current entry)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

ACCEPT VS. EXCEPT

What’s the difference between accept and except?

Accept is a common word with many meanings, most of which involve receiving something, taking something on, or putting up with something. Except is most commonly used as a preposition meaning excluding or but, as in Everyone was invited except me, or as a conjunction meaning but for the fact that, as in I would have called, except I lost my phone.

Except can also be used as a verb meaning to exclude, as in the common phrase present company excepted, but its verb use is much less common. In contrast, accept is always a verb.

To remember the difference in the spelling between accept and except, remember that except shares the prefix ex- with exclude, which is fitting since except is commonly used in situations in which someone or something has been excluded.

Accept, on the other hand, is often used in situations in which something is acquired.

Here’s an example of accept and except used correctly in the same sentence.

Example: I usually accept your excuses, except this time I know they’re not true.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between accept and except.

Quiz yourself on accept vs. except!

Should accept or except be used in the following sentence?

The cake was great _____ for the icing, which was a little too sweet.

How to use accept in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for accept

accept
/ (əkˈsɛpt) /

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of accept

accepter, noun

Word Origin for accept

C14: from Latin acceptāre, from ad- to + capere to take
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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