accept

verb

ac·cept | \ ik-ˈsept

, ak- also ek-\

accepted; accepting; accepts

Definition of accept

transitive verb

1a : to receive (something offered) willingly accept a gift

b : to be able or designed to take or hold (something applied or added) a surface that will not accept ink

2 : to give admittance or approval to accept her as one of the group

3a : to endure without protest or reaction accept poor living conditions

b : to regard as proper, normal, or inevitable an idea that is widely accepted

c : to recognize as true : believe refused to accept the explanation

4a : to make a favorable response to accept an offer

b : to agree to undertake (a responsibility) accept a job

5 : to assume an obligation to pay also : to take in payment we don't accept personal checks

6 of a deliberative body : to receive (a legislative report) officially

intransitive verb

: to receive favorably something offered —usually used with of a heart more disposed to accept of his— Jane Austen

Other Words from accept Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about accept

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Examples of accept in a Sentence

When Bess was born, my mother had a hard time accepting many of our parenting choices. — Kelly Coyle DiNorcia, Mothering, March & April 2008 Despite Alexander's general skepticism about speed measurements, he does accept the cheetah as probably the fastest known running species. The measurement he finds most reliable, 29 m/s (about 65 mph), comes from a 1997 record along a 200-meter course clocked by an experienced timekeeper for athletic races. — Susan Milius, Science News, 16 Aug. 2008 The Edinburgh Christ in the House of Martha and Mary doesn't look like a Vermeer, although its signature has been accepted as genuine. — James Fenton, New York Review of Books, 6 Nov. 2008 They offered him the job, and he accepted it. They offered him the job, and he accepted. The store doesn't accept credit cards. a surface that will not accept ink a computer program ready to accept commands They accepted some applications and rejected others. She's still trying to get her manuscript accepted for publication. They refused to accept his resignation. a word that has come to be accepted as standard This treatment is now accepted by many doctors.

Recent Examples on the Web

The statement wasn’t accepted at face value by corporate critics. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, "Column: Jeff Bezos becomes the first CEO to break his pledge to dump the ‘shareholder value’ model," 16 Sep. 2019 Needles, syringes, lancets and liquids will not be accepted, according to the news release. — Karen Zurawski, Houston Chronicle, "Hospital hosts Crush the Crisis to collect opiods," 16 Sep. 2019 Application fee is $145; 20 entries will be accepted, so early reservations are recommended. — Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Oceanside Harbor Days coming this weekend," 16 Sep. 2019 Withdrawal: If the Student withdraws from a Trip for any reason, either before or after his or her application is accepted, the following terms will govern any refunds. — National Geographic, "Terms & Conditions," 15 Sep. 2019 Britney said she’d been accepted by several of the schools, but none had offered her enough financial aid. — BostonGlobe.com, "ada Pierre is tiny, her ambition drawn taut as a bowstring. The 16-year-old daughter of Haitian immigrants wears her hair in a small bun atop her head, her emerging political consciousness finding its voice in the bevy of Black Lives Matter and #MeToo stickers she’s pasted to her MacBook.," 15 Sep. 2019 Paper tickets are no longer accepted for entrance at Denver home games. — Jeff Bailey, The Denver Post, "Broncos Insider: Need a last-minute ticket to the home opener? Get ready to pay up.," 15 Sep. 2019 Donations are accepted for the book sale until Oct. 2. — courant.com, "Community News For The Colchester Edition," 13 Sep. 2019 Entries will be accepted 6:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday (awards at 3 p.m.). — oregonlive, "Homes and gardens events around Portland: Fall garden fairs, plant sales and more," 13 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accept.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for accept

Middle English accepten "to receive graciously, favor, approve of, judge worthy," borrowed from Anglo-French accepter, borrowed from Medieval Latin acceptāre, going back to Latin, "to receive regularly, submit to, admit of," frequentative of accipere "to take, receive, accept, learn, interpret," from ad- ad- + capere "to take" — more at heave entry 1

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More Definitions for accept

verb

ac·cept | \ ik-ˈsept

, ak-\

accepted; accepting

Kids Definition of accept

1 : to receive or take willingly accept a gift accept as a member

2 : to agree to He accepted my invitation.

3 : to stop resisting accept change

4 : to admit deserving accept blame accept responsibility

transitive verb

ac·cept | \ ik-ˈsept, ak-

Legal Definition of accept

1a : to receive with consent accept a gift accept service

b : to assent to the receipt of and treat in such a way as to indicate ownership of accepted the shipment despite discovering defects in the merchandise — compare reject

Note: Under section 2-606(1) of the Uniform Commercial Code, a buyer accepts goods if: 1) he or she indicates to the seller after a reasonable opportunity to inspect them that he or she will keep them; 2) he or she fails to effectively reject them; 3) he or she acts in a way that is inconsistent with the seller's ownership of the goods.

2 : to make an affirmative or favorable response to specifically : to indicate by words or action one's assent to (an offer) and willingness to enter into a contract

Note: A contract is created when the offer is accepted.

3 : to assume orally, in writing, or by conduct an obligation to pay accepting a draft

4 of a deliberative body : to receive (a report) officially (as from a committee)

intransitive verb

1 : to receive favorably something offered —usually used with of no person…shall…accept of any present — U.S. Constitution art. I

2 : to receive and assume ownership of goods under section 2-606(1), buyer has accepted if he has done any of the acts described therein— J. J. White and R. S. Summers

Other Words from accept

acceptance \ ik-ˈsep-təns, ak-

\ noun

accepter or acceptor \ -tər

\ noun

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