acknowledge
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of.
to acknowledge one's mistakes.
-
to show or express recognition or realization of.
to acknowledge an acquaintance by nodding.
-
to recognize the authority, validity, or claims of.
The students acknowledged the authority of the student council.
-
to show or express appreciation or gratitude for.
to acknowledge a favor.
-
to indicate or make known the receipt of.
to acknowledge a letter.
-
to take notice of or reply to.
to acknowledge a greeting.
-
Law. to confirm as binding or of legal force.
to acknowledge a deed.
verb
-
(may take a clause as object) to recognize or admit the existence, truth, or reality of
-
to indicate recognition or awareness of, as by a greeting, glance, etc
-
to express appreciation or thanks for
to acknowledge a gift
-
to make the receipt of known to the sender
to acknowledge a letter
-
to recognize, esp in legal form, the authority, rights, or claims of
Synonym Usage
Acknowledge, admit, confess agree in the idea of declaring something to be true. Acknowledge implies making a statement reluctantly, often about something previously denied: to acknowledge a fault. Admit especially implies acknowledging something under pressure: to admit a charge. Confess usually means stating somewhat formally an admission of wrongdoing, crime, or shortcoming: to confess guilt; to confess an inability to understand.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
acknowledgesimple
-
acknowledgessimple
-
have acknowledgedperfect
-
has acknowledgedperfect
-
are acknowledgingprogressive
-
am acknowledgingprogressive
-
is acknowledgingprogressive
-
have been acknowledgingperfect progressive
-
has been acknowledgingperfect progressive
Past
-
acknowledgedsimple
-
had acknowledgedperfect
-
was acknowledgingprogressive
-
were acknowledgingprogressive
-
had been acknowledgingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of acknowledge
First recorded in 1475–85; late Middle English acknowleche, apparently either Middle English aknou(en) “to recognize” + -leche, noun suffix, variant of -lac; or a blend of aknouen and knouleche knowledge; then a- was mistaken for ac-
Explanation
To show that you know something is to acknowledge it. Waving "hello" to acknowledge a friend and nodding your head "yes" to acknowledge that you agree with what's being said are both acts showing knowledge or acceptance of someone or something. Dictionaries acknowledge that the word acknowledge has roots in the 15th and 16th centuries and is a combination of roots meaning "accord," "recognize," and "understand." Whereas "knowledge" is what you know, acknowledging is showing that you know. You might acknowledge that the world is round and that the moon is not made of cheese. You also can acknowledge, or give recognition, to the people who discovered these truths.
Vocabulary lists containing acknowledge
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Common Core Grades 7–8, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Nothing But the Truth
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At his press conference Wednesday, Warsh appeared to acknowledge the challenges would-be home buyers are facing.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026
They acknowledge that there have been fewer rate rises in this cycle, but add that multiples were further stretched this time around.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026
The document notes that the schedule will be agreed upon as part of the final deal, but that both sides acknowledge their intentions to "immediately" address the issue in subsequent negotiations.
From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026
Even agency defenders acknowledge that some branches of the agency probably grew too large.
From Slate • Jun. 15, 2026
Basically, the Sheep are the defenseless majority who are completely unwilling to acknowledge the inevitability of real danger, and trust the system to take care of them.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
