What does "acknowledge" mean?

1. (to admit a fact) to accept or admit that something is true or exists. 2. (to confirm receipt) to tell someone that you have received their letter, email, or package. 3. (to give credit) to publicly thank someone or show that you notice their hard work. 4. (to greet) to show that you have seen someone, for example by smiling or waving.

acknowledge

US //ækˈnɑɫɪdʒ// UK //ɐknˈɒlɪdʒ// ac·knowl·edge

1 to admit a fact (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to accept or admit that something is true or exists.

to recognize the existence, truth, or validity of something. Transitive; often followed by a 'that' clause or a noun phrase.

Example

The government finally acknowledged that the new law was not working.

Example

Historians now acknowledge the significant role that local communities played in the resistance movement during the occupation.
- deny
- ignore
2 to confirm receipt (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

to tell someone that you have received their letter, email, or package.

to report the receipt of a communication or delivery to the sender.

Example

Please acknowledge this email so I know you got the files.

Example

The department will acknowledge your application within three working days of its arrival at the central office.

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3 to give credit (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

to publicly thank someone or show that you notice their hard work.

to express gratitude or give formal recognition for a benefit, favour, or contribution.

Example

The author acknowledged her research assistant in the first chapter of the book.

Example

In the preface, the lead scientist acknowledged the generous funding provided by the national research council over the last decade.
- overlook
- slight
4 to greet (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to show that you have seen someone, for example by smiling or waving.

to show that one has noticed or recognized someone by making a gesture or greeting.

Example

He acknowledged me with a small nod as he walked past my desk.

Example

Despite their professional rivalry, the two CEOs acknowledged each other briefly before the conference began.
- ignore
- snub

Origin

Recorded since 1553, a blend of Middle English aknowen (“to recognize, acknowledge”) and knowlechen (“to discover, reveal, acknowledge”). The former verb is from Old English oncnāwan, ācnāwan (“to know, recognize, acknowledge”), from on + cnāwan (“to know”). The latter is derived from the noun at hand in knowledge. For the formation compare Latin agnōscō and Russian призна́ть (priznátʹ), with cognate roots. The /k/-sound was preserved by being redistributed to the preceding syllable: /əˈkn-/ > /əkˈn-/. The -c- was inserted accordingly to reflect this pronunciation more clearly.

Word family

Verbacknowledge
Verbacknowledged

Idioms1 entry

01
acknowledge the corn
To admit to the truth of the point at issue or to a mistake; to cop a plea; or perhaps to admit to a small error but not a larger one.