acknowledge

UK: /ækˈnɒlɪdʒ/ US: /ækˈnɑlɪdʒ/ ,(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 © 2025

ac•knowl•edge /ækˈnɑlɪdʒ/   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 © 2025

ac•knowl•edge  (ak nol′ij), 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. Law to 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. 
Synonyms

• 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.

Antonyms

• 1. deny, disclaim, disavow.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

acknowledge / əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/ verb (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, recognize

acˈknowledgeable adjective