accept

verb

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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 ofa heart more disposed to accept of his— Jane Austen

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 This year, however, all three are fraught with uncertainty because President Donald Trump, a buffoonish one-term wannabe autocrat, will not accept his election loss. — Arkansas Online, "OPINION | COLBERT I. KING: How January will test U.S.," 4 Jan. 2021 Fauci recently estimated that 85% of the population would need to get vaccinated to achieve immunity; a recent Associated Press poll indicated 25% of Americans won't accept the vaccine when offered. — Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, "When in 2021 will pro, college and youth sports return to normal?," 31 Dec. 2020 Trump has already denied legal status and work permits to immigrants who accept public benefits, like food stamps or Medicaid. — Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "Trump can bar immigrants who can’t afford health insurance, court rules," 31 Dec. 2020 Home Start will continue to accept applications until funds are exhausted. — Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, "South/East County Happenings, Dec. 24," 24 Dec. 2020 That said, the church will accept just 60 of the usual 250 attendees. — Julia Musto, Fox News, "Christmas church services will look different amid pandemic," 24 Dec. 2020 The short but brutal conflict has proven conclusively that Armenia cannot win militarily, and that therefore ethnic Armenians must accept either governance by Azerbaijan or the protectorate of Russia. — Ivan Sascha Sheehan, National Review, "Russia’s New Territory," 23 Dec. 2020 However, people who cannot accept the results of the vote are sowing distrust that can lead to fewer people voting. — Julie Blaha, Star Tribune, "Minnesota GOP attacks undermine checks and balances," 22 Dec. 2020 But what about the Republican Party—is this the moment when the G.O.P. abandons its belief in democracy and the simple nonnegotiable principle that the losing party must accept the results of an election? — Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, "It’s Not Just Trump’s War on Democracy Anymore," 11 Dec. 2020

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.

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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