Meaning & use
acknowledge
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To accept or admit that something is true, real, or exists.
Grammar: Takes a noun or that-clause directly: acknowledge the error; acknowledge that she was late.
Patterns
- acknowledge a mistake
- acknowledge that something is true
- acknowledge the problem
He refused to acknowledge his mistake.
She acknowledged that the schedule had changed.
verbtransitive
To recognize the importance, authority, or status of someone or something.
Grammar: Takes an object such as authority, rights, or a person's work.
Patterns
- acknowledge authority
- acknowledge someone's contribution
- acknowledge a right
The committee acknowledged her contribution to the project.
The treaty acknowledged the community's land rights.
verbtransitive
To show that you have noticed someone by greeting, nodding, or reacting.
Grammar: Takes a person as object; it can mean a small public sign of recognition.
Patterns
- acknowledge someone with a nod
- acknowledge the crowd
- acknowledge a question
The teacher acknowledged every raised hand.
He acknowledged the crowd with a brief wave.
verbtransitivebusinessformal
To confirm that something has been received, especially a message or payment.
Grammar: Common in email and business: acknowledge receipt of the invoice.
Patterns
- acknowledge receipt of something
- acknowledge an order
- acknowledge payment
Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
The store acknowledged my order within minutes.
Word forms
| third person singular | acknowledges |
|---|---|
| past tense | acknowledged |
| past participle | acknowledged |
| -ing form | acknowledging |
Common combinations
- acknowledge a mistake
- It is easier to fix a problem after you acknowledge a mistake.
- acknowledge receipt
- Kindly acknowledge receipt of the signed form.
- acknowledge someone's help
- The author thanked the editor and acknowledged the designer's help.
- widely acknowledged
- Her skill as a mediator is widely acknowledged.
Synonyms and how they differ
- admit
- Admit often suggests accepting an uncomfortable fact; acknowledge can be more neutral or public.
- recognize
- Recognize can mean know again or accept validity; acknowledge stresses accepting or showing notice.
- confirm
- Confirm fits receipts and arrangements; acknowledge fits truth, people, and receipt too.
Opposites
Word family
- acknowledgment noun
- The act of acknowledging or a statement of thanks.
- acknowledged adjective
- Accepted as true, real, or well known.
- acknowledgement noun
- British spelling variant of acknowledgment.
Commonly confused: acknowledge or admit? acknowledge or knowledge?
acknowledge vs admit
Admit often implies reluctance or guilt; acknowledge can simply accept a fact or recognize someone.
acknowledge vs knowledge
Acknowledge contains know- historically but means accept or recognize, not the noun knowledge.
Practice
Choose the sentence with the correct pattern.
Choose one answer.
Acknowledge is followed directly by a noun or gerund: acknowledge making a mistake; to/for/at do not fit this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “acknowledge”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.