# accept

/ækˈsɛpt/ (US) · /ɐksˈɛpt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accept
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to receive something offered

verb · CEFR A2

to say yes to an offer or to take something that someone gives you.

For teachers: to receive something willingly; to agree to an offer, invitation, or gift.

- She was happy to accept the job offer after the second interview.
- The board of directors voted unanimously to accept the merger proposal, citing the long-term benefits for the shareholders.

### 2. to believe as true

verb · CEFR B1

to believe that an explanation or a fact is true.

For teachers: to regard something as true, proper, or correct.

- Most people now accept that climate change is a serious problem.
- While the theory was initially controversial, the scientific community eventually accepted the findings after several independent studies confirmed the data.

### 3. to admit to a group

verb · CEFR B1

to allow someone to join a group, a school, or an organisation.

For teachers: to admit someone to a place, group, or status.

- He was thrilled when the university accepted his application.
- The prestigious academy only accepts a handful of applicants each year, maintaining a rigorous selection process based on both merit and potential.

### 4. to deal with a situation

verb · CEFR B2

to stop trying to change something that is difficult and learn to live with it.

For teachers: to endure or acknowledge a situation without opposition; to resign oneself to a reality.

- It took him a long time to accept that his injury meant he couldn't play football anymore.
- The community had to accept the reality of the economic downturn, pivoting their focus toward local sustainable initiatives instead of large-scale manufacturing.

### 5. to take as payment

verb · CEFR A2

to take a specific type of payment, like a credit card.

For teachers: to receive or take something as adequate or satisfactory for a transaction.

- Does this small café accept credit cards or is it cash only?
- The vendor refused to accept the shipment, noting that the goods had been damaged during transit and did not meet the contractual quality standards specified in the contract.

## Examples

- She decided to accept the new job offer.
- The store does not accept credit cards, so you will need to pay with cash.
- While the committee did not initially agree with the proposal, they eventually chose to accept the findings once the final data set was verified.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.