acknowledge

[ ak-nol-ij ]

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.

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-

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 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

Other words from acknowledge

ac·knowl·edge·a·ble, adjective
ac·knowl·edg·er, noun
pre·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

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

How to use acknowledge in a sentence

Indeed, Jung freely acknowledged that there were alternative explanations for each of the stories he told—he just wanted his readers to note a pattern.
The Synchronicity of Wolfgang Pauli and Carl Jung - Issue 93: Forerunners | Paul Halpern | November 18, 2020 | Nautilus
City Councilman Chris Cate – who helped get Measure D on the ballot this year – acknowledges it’s not entirely clear whether Measure D could be used to remove Beiser from office.
Despite New Removal Process, Beiser Likely to Stay on School Board | Will Huntsberry | November 17, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
He’s quick to acknowledge that tropical peatlands are just one place where this is true.
Conserving tropical peatlands could be key to preventing the next pandemic | Kat Eschner | November 17, 2020 | Popular-Science
As problems emerged, officials were slow to acknowledge the evidence.
Rapid Testing Is Less Accurate Than the Government Wants to Admit | by Lisa Song | November 16, 2020 | ProPublica
Amazon has been working over the past several years to take a harder stance on counterfeiting, having acknowledged the practice harms consumer trust in its online store.
Amazon sues online influencers engaged in a counterfeit scheme | Sarah Perez | November 12, 2020 | TechCrunch

The game never congratulates me for my work, or even acknowledges it at all.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art | Alec Kubas-Meyer | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Much like Jamie, he acknowledges—but will not capitulate to—the circumscribed world they create.
This Week’s Hot Reads: December 22, 2014 | Mythili Rao | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
That can be survivable if a president acknowledges failures and takes steps to correct.
Voters Remind D.C. That the Economy Still Sucks | Stuart Stevens | November 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
She acknowledges that someone helped Seda get to Hamzat in Syria, although Leila declines to say if it was friend or a relative.
The Secret Life of an ISIS Warlord | Will Cathcart, Vazha Tavberidze, Nino Burchuladze | October 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Further, the military acknowledges that it is currently sharing hotels and businesses with foreign nationals.
U.S. Soldiers Get Just Four Hours of Ebola Training | Tim Mak | October 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Receiving their various services offered to Him, He acknowledges them as covenant children.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John Cunningham
The Monk of Malmesbury, however, acknowledges that there was 'sufficiently keen fighting, in which Gloucester was unhorsed.'
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. Murison
Trokelowe frankly acknowledges that his handsome liberality gained him immense respect 'even among his enemies.'
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. Murison
For I did not begin the attack upon Attalus and the Rhodians, but they upon me, as everybody acknowledges.
The Histories of Polybius, Vol. II (of 2) | Polybius
Schemes of reformation set on foot by his servants he acknowledges.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John Cunningham

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 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

Origin of acknowledge

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

Derived forms of acknowledge

acknowledgeable, adjective
acknowledger, noun

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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