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⇱ acknowledge - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

acknowledge

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ækˈnɒlɪdʒ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ækˈnɑlɪdʒ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(ak nol′ij)

Inflections of 'acknowledge' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
acknowledges
v 3rd person singular
acknowledging
v pres p
acknowledged
v past
acknowledged
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ac•knowl•edge /ækˈnɑlɪdʒ/USA pronunciation   v., -edged, -edg•ing. 
  1. to admit to be real or true: [ ~ + obj]:The loser acknowledged defeat.[~ + that clause]acknowledged that he had been defeated.
  2. [ ~ + obj (+ with + obj)] to show or express recognition of:The teacher acknowledged my presence with a smile.
  3. [ ~ + obj] to recognize the authority or validity of:acknowledged the truth of the accusations against him.
  4. [ ~ + obj] to show or express appreciation for:She acknowledged the applause.
  5. [ ~ + obj] to make known the receipt of:He wrote a thank-you note to acknowledge the gift.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ac•knowl•edge  (ak nol′ij),USA pronunciation v.t., -edged, -edg•ing. 
  1. to admit to be real or true;
    recognize the existence, truth, or fact of:to acknowledge one's mistakes.
  2. to show or express recognition or realization of:to acknowledge an acquaintance by nodding.
  3. to recognize the authority, validity, or claims of:The students acknowledged the authority of the student council.
  4. to show or express appreciation or gratitude for:to acknowledge a favor.
  5. to indicate or make known the receipt of:to acknowledge a letter.
  6. to take notice of or reply to:to acknowledge a greeting.
  7. Lawto confirm as binding or of legal force:to acknowledge a deed.
  • 1475–85; acknowleche, apparently either Middle English aknou(en) to recognize (Old English oncnāwan; see a-1, know) + -leche noun, nominal suffix (Old English *-lǣce, by-form of -lac; compare knowledge, wedlock); or blend of, blended aknouen and knouleche knowledge; then a- was mistaken for ac-
ac•knowl′edge•a•ble, adj. 
ac•knowl′edg•er, n. 
    1. concede, confess, grant. Acknowledge, admit, confess agree in the idea of declaring something to be true. Acknowledge implies making a statement reluctantly, often about something previously denied:to acknowledge a fault.Admit especially implies acknowledging something under pressure:to admit a charge.Confess usually means stating somewhat formally an admission of wrongdoing, crime, or shortcoming:to confess guilt; to confess an inability to understand.
    1. deny, disclaim, disavow.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
acknowledge /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/ vb (transitive)
  1. (may take a clause as object) to recognize or admit the existence, truth, or reality of
  2. to indicate recognition or awareness of, as by a greeting, glance, etc
  3. to express appreciation or thanks for
  4. to make the receipt of known to the sender: to acknowledge an email
  5. to recognize, esp in legal form, the authority, rights, or claims of
Etymology: 15th Century: probably from earlier knowledge, on the model of Old English oncnāwan, Middle English aknowen to confess, recognizeacˈknowledgeable adj
'acknowledge' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: acknowledge his [existence, presence], acknowledge the [necessity, presence, existence] of, acknowledge her [brilliance, potential], more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "acknowledge" in the title:

acknowledge
acknowledge
acknowledge
acknowledge
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Acknowledge (receipt of) the payment
acknowledge / recognize
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acknowledge +infinitive or gerund
acknowledge a problem, but struggle...
Acknowledge and recognise in this sentence
Acknowledge debt
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acknowledge each person who got him the present
Acknowledge for something Or acknowledge something
acknowledge for?
acknowledge it only to rebut or disparage the claims [acknowledge?]
acknowledge one another
Acknowledge or Acknowled
ACKNOWLEDGE or CONFIRM?
acknowledge pain as the sum of sensations suspended from the label of pain
acknowledge positive or neutral feedback
acknowledge receipt
acknowledge receipt / Handing over
acknowledge somebody as..
Acknowledge that + ing or + to do
acknowledge the confusion
acknowledge the economic forces
more...

Look up "acknowledge" at Merriam-Webster
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