acknowledge

[ ak-nol-ij ]

/ ækˈnɒl ɪdʒ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: acknowledge / acknowledged / acknowledges / acknowledging on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), ac·knowl·edged, ac·knowl·edg·ing.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR acknowledge

1 concede, confess, grant.

See synonyms for acknowledge on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR acknowledge

1 deny, disclaim, disavow.

See antonyms for acknowledge on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of acknowledge

1475–85; acknowleche, apparently either Middle English aknou(en) to recognize (Old English oncnāwan;see a-¹, know¹) + -leche noun suffix (Old English *-lǣce, by-form of -lac;cf. knowledge, wedlock); or blend of aknouen and knoulecheknowledge; then a- was mistaken for ac-

synonym study for acknowledge

1. 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 WORDS FROM acknowledge

ac·knowl·edge·a·ble, adjectiveac·knowl·edg·er, nounpre·ac·knowl·edge, verb (used with object), pre·ac·knowl·edged, pre·ac·knowl·edg·ing.re·ac·knowl·edge, verb (used with object), re·ac·knowl·edged, re·ac·knowl·edg·ing.

un·ac·knowl·edg·ing, adjective

Words nearby acknowledge

ack-ack, ackee, ack-emma, acker, ackey, acknowledge, acknowledged, acknowledgment, ACL, acle, acleistocardia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use acknowledge in a sentence

What was extremely disturbing to us was we began to realize that there was a settlement that came out of each period that had to do with restoring racial hierarchy or even just never even acknowledging a conflict around it and building on top of it.
RBG, minority rule, and our looming legitimacy crisis|Ezra Klein|September 25, 2020|Vox
Finally, Becerra stepped in, urging Hayungs to get on with his presentation, but never acknowledging all he’d done to help the businessman.
The COVID-19 Charmer: How a Self-Described Felon Convinced Elected Officials to Try to Help Him Profit From the Pandemic|by Vianna Davila, Jeremy Schwartz and Lexi Churchill|September 25, 2020|ProPublica
The researchers acknowledged in their article that they do not have precise enough dating to verify how many species, especially land animals and plants, actually died out in the time frame that the researchers investigated.
A volcanic eruption may have helped the dinosaurs take over the world|Rachael Zisk|September 24, 2020|Popular-Science
Executive Chairman Bill Ford, whom Newsom praised in his remarks, was among the first Detroit executives to acknowledge the role gas-burning cars play in climate change.
California to ban new gasoline cars by 2035, a first in U.S.|Verne Kopytoff|September 23, 2020|Fortune

In the plea agreement, Garmo acknowledged that between 2013 and 2019 he made straw purchases of “off-roster” handguns and rifles that only members of law enforcement can possess, then transferred 98 of them to people he knew.
Sheriff’s Department Made Excuses for Captain Who Pleaded Guilty to Arms Dealing|Jesse Marx|September 23, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Every once in a while, they act swiftly and acknowledge the problem.
Today’s GOP: Still Cool With Racist Pandering?|Michael Tomasky|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
You have to acknowledge your age and position in life, for me quite a lot of those emotionally fueled songs were hormone songs.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Interviews in Serial (including ones from Adnan) do acknowledge that Jay was known as a resident bad boy at Woodlawn High School.
The Deal With Serial’s Jay? He’s Pissed Off, Mucks Up Our Timeline|Emily Shire|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As Kurdish leaders acknowledge, liberating Mosul is beyond the capability of the peshmerga and government forces will be needed.
Iraqi Kurds Get Their Groove Back, End Siege of Mount Sinjar|Jamie Dettmer|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All seem to acknowledge that sexual assault is a serious problem that requires campus-wide education.
Fraternities in a Post-UVA World|Samantha Allen|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And when he answered it, he was obliged to acknowledge that she had made upon his nature a definite impression.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
He would impeach all his partners, acknowledge his errors, and promise once more to reform.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
This is certainly handsome, and I acknowledge the courtesy, though I shall not accept the invitation.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
They obeyed, and the sieur made them acknowledge the authority of his son, as Vice-Admiral in the said lands of the West.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
"Gilbert, I am glad you acknowledge the folly of your conduct," said the farmer, breaking the painful silence.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie

British Dictionary definitions for acknowledge

acknowledge

/ (əkˈnɒlɪdʒ) /

verb (tr)

(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 forto acknowledge a gift

to make the receipt of known to the senderto acknowledge a letter

to recognize, esp in legal form, the authority, rights, or claims of

Derived forms of acknowledge

acknowledgeable, adjectiveacknowledger, noun

Word Origin for acknowledge

C15: probably from earlier knowledge, on the model of Old English oncnāwan, Middle English aknowen to confess, recognize

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

acknowledge

OTHER WORDS FOR acknowledge

OPPOSITES FOR acknowledge

Origin of acknowledge

synonym study for acknowledge

OTHER WORDS FROM acknowledge

Words nearby acknowledge

Words related to acknowledge

How to use acknowledge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for acknowledge

Derived forms of acknowledge

Word Origin for acknowledge