acknowledge

verb

ik-ˈnä-lij How to pronounce acknowledge (audio)
Definition of acknowledgenext
as in to admit
to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly finally had to acknowledge that she'd outgrown her favorite jacket

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb acknowledge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of acknowledge are admit, avow, confess, and own. While all these words mean "to disclose against one's will or inclination," acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

When is it sensible to use admit instead of acknowledge?

While in some cases nearly identical to acknowledge, admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

admitted the project was over budget

When could avow be used to replace acknowledge?

Although the words avow and acknowledge have much in common, avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about.

avowed that he was a revolutionary

In what contexts can confess take the place of acknowledge?

The words confess and acknowledge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

confessed a weakness for sweets

When is own a more appropriate choice than acknowledge?

The words own and acknowledge can be used in similar contexts, but own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.

must own I know little about computers

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of acknowledge Israel was not invited to the party and was barely acknowledged in the foreign-policy address that the president delivered in Saudi Arabia. —Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025 India didn’t publicly acknowledge the U.S. mediation efforts or Trump’s role in the same, while Pakistan’s Sharif did. —Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025 In contrast, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the U.S. and took to social media to express gratitude to Trump. —Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 10 May 2025 Left-handedness and certain neurological disorders could go hand-in-hand, a new study revealed, though the researchers and others acknowledged potential limitations. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for acknowledge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acknowledge
  1. admit
  2. confess
  3. concede
  4. agree
Verb
  • However, things got tense when a reporter asked Trump about his decision to admit 59 White South Africans into the United States as refugees earlier this month.
    — Meredith Kile, People.com, 21 May 2025
  • Antoinette Prieto, 29, admitted May 19 to arson and stalking.
    — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
Definition of admit
Verb
  • She was forced to confess on national television to crimes against the state, which included having ties to an unlikely combination of the first Trump Administration and communist groups.
    — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
  • The scene at the start of the episode, when Dina takes Ellie’s shirt off to tend to her wounds and Ellie confesses to Dina about what Joel did, is so sweet and vulnerable.
    — Adam B. Vary, Variety, 26 May 2025
Definition of confess
Verb
  • Conte’s side conceded just 27 goals in 38 league games, the strongest defensive record in Serie A and 18 fewer than Inter.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • Many economists argue that trade deficits do not matter, and even proponents concede that doing so can cause short-term pain.
    — Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025
Definition of concede
Verb
  • Snyder agreed that weather remains a major concern for summer travel, and the usual advice for dealing with that applies.
    — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 29 May 2025
  • The Supreme Court agreed, in the case known as Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, finding that Congress had the authority to protect commissioners against Presidential dismissal.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 29 May 2025
Definition of agree

Browse Nearby Words

acing (out)
acknowledge
acknowledged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acknowledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acknowledge. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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