acknowledged

[ak-nol-ijd]

See more synonyms for acknowledged on Thesaurus.com

adjective

widely recognized; generally accepted: an acknowledged authority on Chinese art.

Origin of acknowledged

First recorded in 1760–70; acknowledge + -ed²

Related formsac·knowl·edged·ly

[ak-nol-ijd-lee, -i-jid-] /ækˈnɒl ɪdʒd li, -ɪ dʒɪd-/, adverbself-ac·knowl·edged, adjectiveun·ac·knowl·edged, adjectivewell-ac·knowl·edged, adjective

acknowledge

[ak-nol-ij]

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.

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 knouleche knowledge; then a- was mistaken for ac-

Related formsac·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

Synonyms for acknowledge

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1. concede, confess, grant.

Synonym study

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.

Antonyms for acknowledge

1. deny, disclaim, disavow.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for acknowledged

confirmed, accepted, approved, recognized, unquestioned, authorized, sanctioned

Examples from the Web for acknowledged

Contemporary Examples of acknowledged

Earlier in the segment, host Chuck Todd had asked him if he understood and acknowledged that black people have a fear of police.
Memo to Cops: Criticisms Aren’t Attacks
Michael Tomasky
December 28, 2014
He acknowledged the theories but his voice lacked conviction.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days
David Freeman
December 13, 2014
Many supporters came out to support his position, and he acknowledged them.
Prof: MIT Hospitalized Me For Ferguson Tweets
Nina Strochlic
December 11, 2014
Cogan has since apologized for using the term and acknowledged she was wrong about the story.
What the U-VA Rape Case Tells Us About a Victim Culture Gone Mad
Lizzie Crocker
December 6, 2014
“That number has bounced around a bit,” Austin acknowledged.
ISIS Has 9,000 ‘Core Fighters.’ Or Maybe 17,000. Or Possibly 30,000.
Tim Mak
November 6, 2014

Historical Examples of acknowledged

The inestimable value of our Federal Union is felt and acknowledged by all.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
You have acknowledged, that he has nothing to boast of from them.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
It is all fair: because you have not acknowledged to me that little.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
Few men hold such a position in their own lifetime, and have it so acknowledged.
De Profundis
Oscar Wilde
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid.
An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Joseph Stump

British Dictionary definitions for acknowledged

acknowledge

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 Formsacknowledgeable, 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

Word Origin and History for acknowledged

acknowledge

1550s, a blend of Middle English aknow (from Old English oncnawan "understand," from on + cnawan "recognize;" see know) and Middle English knowlechen "admit, acknowledge" (c.1200; see knowledge). In the merger, a parasitic -c- slipped in, so that while the kn- became a simple "n" sound (as in know), the -c- stepped up to preserve, in this word, the ancient "kn-" sound. Related: Acknowledged; acknowledging.