acknowledge the truth

/əkˈnɒlɪdʒ ðə truːθ/
admit or accept the truth

After years of denial, he finally acknowledged the truth about his past.

He admitted the truth about his past after denying it for years.


formalinformal

To admit or accept the truth, especially after denying or ignoring it.

The company acknowledged the truth about the safety issues after the scandal broke.

The company admitted the truth about the safety problems once the scandal became public.

She couldn't acknowledge the truth about her feelings for him.

She was unable to admit her true feelings for him.

This phrase is often used when someone has been avoiding or denying the truth for a long time.

Related Phrases

face the truthphrase
to accept an unpleasant reality
come to terms with the truthphrase
to accept a difficult truth

Pro Tip

Common Usage

This phrase is often used when someone has been avoiding or denying the truth for a long time.

Gold Rule

Formal vs. Informal

This phrase can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is often more common in formal or serious discussions.

Word Origin

The phrase combines 'acknowledge' (from Old English 'onclācnian', meaning to recognize) and 'the truth' (from Old English 'trīewþ', meaning reality or fact).

Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, often when someone has been avoiding or denying the truth for a long time.

Word Breakdown

acknowledge
to admit or accept
verb
+
the truth
a fact or reality
noun phrase
English Dictionary