acknowledge

verb

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ac·knowl·edge | \ ik-ˈnä-lij

, ak- \

acknowledged; acknowledging

Definition of acknowledge

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.

3a : 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

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About acknowledge

Synonyms & Antonyms for acknowledge

Synonyms

Antonyms

deny

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Health departments broadly acknowledge their counts are low because so many people go untested or use at-home tests, making reinfections particularly hard to track. — Brianna Abbott, WSJ, 6 May 2022 Many analysts, and even supporters of the project, acknowledge that the court could side with the opposition, dooming the NECEC and forcing Massachusetts back to the drawing board. — New York Times, 6 May 2022 The authors acknowledge that there are some limitations to the simplicity of their model. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 6 May 2022 Mike Feuer, acknowledge that the scale of the need means the city can’t totally discount congregate settings. — Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2022 Officials acknowledge that the incidents are underreported due to cultural barriers, mistrust of law enforcement or because people simply don’t know the hotline exists. — oregonlive, 3 May 2022 The only approach, people on all sides acknowledge, is one that involves the voices of all stakeholders imaginable: traffic engineers, planners, educators, lawmakers, advocates, the public. — Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 May 2022 As for Lucio, her attorneys acknowledge there's a long way to go. — Dakin Andone, CNN, 1 May 2022 The marker will acknowledge a Native American language spoken in this area thousands of years before the Spanish arrived. — Elaine Ayala, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Apr. 2022 See More

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.

Learn More About acknowledge

Dictionary Entries Near acknowledge

acknow

acknowledge

acknowledgeable

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Last Updated

10 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Acknowledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acknowledge. Accessed 20 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for acknowledge

acknowledge

verb

ac·knowl·edge | \ ik-ˈnä-lij

, ak- \

acknowledged; acknowledging

Kids Definition of acknowledge

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

acknowledge

transitive verb

ac·knowl·edge

acknowledged; acknowledging

Legal Definition of acknowledge

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)

2a : 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) acknowledge receipt of a letter

4 : to recognize as genuine so as to give validity : avow or admit in legal form the execution of any such power of attorney shall be acknowledged before one of the officers — U.S. Code