# acceptance

/ækˈsɛptəns/ (US) · /ɐksˈɛptəns/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. agreement or approval

noun · CEFR B2

the act of saying 'yes' to an offer, an invitation, or an idea.

For teachers: the act of receiving something offered with approval or satisfaction; the formal agreement to terms or an invitation.

- We are waiting for their formal acceptance of our job offer.
- The committee's swift acceptance of the proposal surprised the board, as they had expected a lengthy debate over the budget.

### 2. social belonging

noun · CEFR B2

the feeling of being included or welcomed by a group of people.

For teachers: the state of being received or admitted into a group, community, or social circle.

- Moving to a new school is hard until you find acceptance among your classmates.
- The immigrant community sought social acceptance through local outreach programmes and cultural exchange events.

### 3. dealing with reality

noun · CEFR B2

the act of admitting that a situation is true or real, even if it is difficult.

For teachers: the process of acknowledging a situation or fact, often a negative one, without attempting to protest or change it.

- Acceptance of the facts helped her move on after the accident.
- Therapy often focuses on the acceptance of past trauma as a necessary step toward emotional recovery.

### 4. legal or financial agreement

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a formal or legal agreement to pay a debt or follow the rules of a contract.

For teachers: a person's assent to the terms of a contract or a bill of exchange, creating a legally binding obligation.

- The contract is not valid until there is a clear acceptance of the terms.
- In contract law, the mirror image rule requires that the acceptance must exactly match the terms of the original offer to be valid.

Usage: Often used in the context of 'offer and acceptance' in contract law.

### 5. general belief

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

when an idea or a word's meaning is believed or used by most people.

For teachers: the state of being widely believed, used, or recognized as correct or standard.

- This theory has gained wide acceptance among scientists over the last decade.
- The term has found general acceptance in the linguistic community, despite its origins as a colloquialism.

## Examples

- She received a letter of acceptance from the university today.
- The manager's quick acceptance of the proposal surprised the team, as they expected more questions about the budget.
- In contract law, the clear communication of acceptance is a vital step that transforms a mere offer into a legally binding agreement between two parties.

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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.