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acknowledge
/əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/
accept or admit the existence or truth of something
She acknowledged her mistake in the meeting.
She admitted her mistake during the meeting.
formalinformal
To accept or admit the existence or truth of something
He acknowledged the risks before starting the project.
He admitted the potential dangers before beginning the project.
The company acknowledged the customer's complaint.
The company accepted the validity of the customer's complaint.
Often used in formal or professional contexts to show recognition or acceptance.
informal
To show that you have noticed or received something
She acknowledged the audience with a wave.
She waved to the audience to show she had noticed them.
He acknowledged the gift with a smile.
He smiled to show he had received the gift.
Can be used to show recognition or appreciation in social situations.
Collocations
acknowledge receiptto confirm that something has been receivedacknowledge responsibilityto admit that one is responsible for somethingacknowledge the truthto admit that something is true
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Use
Use 'acknowledge' in formal contexts to show recognition or acceptance, while 'admit' or 'recognize' may be more informal.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Do not overuse 'acknowledge' in formal writing; vary your language to avoid repetition.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'acknowleden', from Old English 'oncnāwan' (to know, recognize), from 'on' (intensifier) + 'cnāwan' (to know).
Usage Notes
Can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is often more formal than 'admit' or 'recognize'.
Word Breakdown
acknowledge
to accept or admit
rootEnglish Dictionary