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
-
acknowledgernoun
-
preacknowledgeverb (used with object)
-
reacknowledgeverb (used with object)
-
acknowledgeableadjective
-
unacknowledgingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
acknowledgesimple
-
acknowledgessimple
-
have acknowledgedperfect
-
has acknowledgedperfect
-
am acknowledgingprogressive
-
are 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.
See Examples For:
Regardless of political perspective, one has to acknowledge she is remarkably unflappable.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
"It is on you to acknowledge it and put in the work to heal."
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
I said something like: “Please don’t go home. Your child needs oxygen. She has pneumonia. We will figure out a way to pay for this, because we acknowledge what we do is expensive.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
"As African countries, we have to acknowledge and address the conditions that drive migration in the first place," Ramaphosa told a session of the parliament, which is the legislative body of the African Union.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
But of course he was right, and by the time I came to womanhood even I had to acknowledge that his prestige was much diminished.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
He acknowledges that there are some well-established societal downsides to overuse of Meta’s social-media, especially among young people, but he appreciates “at least there’s no cloud in their revenue.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
In his memoir, “Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery,” published this year, Newsom acknowledges the liaison with Rippey, describing it as “the briefest of affairs.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
However, while she says people with insecure attachment styles should be viewed with more empathy, she acknowledges the importance of self-awareness.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The criticism surrounding Fire Point has had at least one tangible consequence, she acknowledges: some projects with foreign partners were delayed for several months for additional compliance procedures.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
He acknowledges me now with a devious smile.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
Byamukama acknowledged Uefa's right to speak out, but suggested its members were not reliant on Fifa funding like many associations in the rest of the world where Infantino remains popular.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
The company acknowledged on Thursday that cost pressures and supply-chain issues are expected to weigh on margins.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
The Kremlin has acknowledged the government may have to assist Wildberries, but has not yet made a decision on state aid.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
Mexican fast-casual chain acknowledged ‘softening’ traffic in the second half of July, but it’s taking a rosier view of its full-year prospects.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Moreover, it was generally acknowledged that the Tychonic system was incompatible with belief in solid heavenly spheres.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which owns Monticello and runs its public educational programs, gradually came around to acknowledging the full subjecthood of Sally Hemings, to the chagrin of some visitors.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
The government has sought to respond to public anger over migration by promoting a "locals first" approach, while acknowledging that some industries rely on foreign skills and labour.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Despite acknowledging subtle differences with Lindsey—“I have my own way of doing things,” she wrote in a note to constituents last week—she has emphasized that they shared the “same values.”
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
While acknowledging the oil crisis of 1973, and the fact unions were more powerful then, he said inflation didn’t stop accelerating.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
We needed to flee the scene of the crime, but it felt wrong to start running without acknowledging the obvious.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
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.
