acknowledge

verb ac·knowl·edge \ ik-ˈnä-lij , ak- \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: acknowledge in a Sentence

Definition of acknowledge

acknowledged; acknowledging

transitive verb

1 : to recognize the rights, authority, or status of

They acknowledged him as their leader.

2 : to disclose knowledge of or agreement with

She readily acknowledged her mistake.

3 a : to express gratitude or obligation for

acknowledge a gift

b : to take notice of

failed to acknowledge my greeting

c : to make known the receipt of

acknowledge a letter

4 : to recognize as genuine or valid

acknowledge a debt

See acknowledge defined for English-language learners

See acknowledge defined for kids

Examples of acknowledge in a Sentence

They acknowledged that the decision was a mistake.
Do you acknowledge that you caused this mess?
They readily acknowledged their mistake.
She won't acknowledge responsibility for her actions.
He quickly acknowledges all of my e-mails when he receives them.
Please acknowledge receipt of this letter.
She acknowledged the gift with a card.
She acknowledged his greeting with a smile.

Recent Examples of acknowledge from the Web

Papa John's has acknowledged in regulatory filings that Schnatter's public role as its pitchman could be a liability if his reputation was damaged.

— courant.com, "Papa John's is pulling founder's image from its marketing," 13 July 2018
If one acknowledges that the fallen state of all mankind is a reason to forgive, not condemn, then there’s no basis for either.

— alissa wilkinson, Vox, "What two fictional Gileads can teach us about America in 2018," 12 July 2018
Infamously, the Soviet version of daylight saving never quite got things figured out (the 61-year-old error in time keeping was finally acknowledged in 1991).

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "The EU Mulls Ditching Daylight Saving Time," 9 July 2018
It's universally acknowledged that San Francisco is expensive — but are its rents the most expensive in the world?

— gabby ferreira, sacbee, "San Francisco is expensive — and rents are the highest in the world, study says," 9 July 2018
The Elgin City Council, while acknowledging the decision on a new chief was Kozal’s, was split over whether there should be an outside search conducted before the job was filled.

— linda mcdaniel-hale, Elgin Courier-News, "McDaniel-Hale: Good decision promoting Elgin officers to top police jobs rather than doing outside search," 6 July 2018
Honoring the June ban and other tribal requests is a small way to acknowledge Native people’s past, Black Crow says—and honor their modern rights.

— krista langlois, Outside Online, "Sacred Native American Sites Are Not Your Playgrounds," 5 July 2018
Orlando City general manager Niki Budalic acknowledged Monday that new coach James O’Connor has been signed to a 2 ½-year contract.

— mike bianchi, Pro Soccer USA, "Here’s hoping Orlando City actually has some patience with new coach James O’Connor," 3 July 2018
Tenders that were supposed to be judged on both price and quality have, it is generally acknowledged, come to be awarded to the lowest bidder.

— The Economist, "Britain’s outsourcing model, copied around the world, is in trouble," 28 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of acknowledge

ac- (in acknow "to confess knowledge of," going back to Middle English aknowen, going back to Old English oncnāwan, acnāwan "to know, recognize, admit, confess," from a-, on-, prefixal use of on ¹on + cnāwan "to ¹know") + knowledge

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

acknowledge Synonyms

Phrases

come clean (about);

Synonym Discussion of acknowledge

acknowledge, admit, own, avow, confess mean to disclose against one's will or inclination. acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

- acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

- admitted the project was over budget

own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.

- must own I know little about computers

avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about.

- avowed that he was a revolutionary

confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

- confessed a weakness for sweets

ACKNOWLEDGE Defined for English Language Learners

acknowledge

verb

Definition of acknowledge for English Language Learners

: to say that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something)
: to regard or describe (someone or something) as having or deserving a particular status
: to tell or show someone that something (such as a letter or message) has been received

ACKNOWLEDGE Defined for Kids

acknowledge

verb ac·knowl·edge \ ik-ˈnä-lij , ak- \

Definition of acknowledge for Students

acknowledged; acknowledging

1 : to admit the truth or existence of

They acknowledged their mistake.

2 : to make known that something has been received or noticed

He refuses to acknowledge my generosity.

3 : to recognize the rights or authority of

They acknowledged her as captain.

4 : to express thanks or appreciation for acknowledge a gift

Law Dictionary

acknowledge

transitive verb ac·knowl·edge

legal Definition of acknowledge

acknowledged; acknowledging

1 : to indicate recognition and acceptance of

the power of taxation in the general and state governments is acknowledged to be concurrent
—McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819)

2 a : to show by word or act that one has knowledge of and accepts responsibility for (a duty, obligation, or indebtedness)

b : to admit paternity of

will acknowledge the child as his

— compare filiate

3 : to make known to a sender or giver the receipt of (what has been sent or given) or the fact of (one's having received what has been sent or given)