Word
acknowledge
Phoneticsac·knowl·edge, stress on the second syllable
US/ækˈnɑɫɪdʒ/
UK/ɐknˈɒlɪdʒ/
Definitions
01to admit a fact
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to accept or admit that something is true or exists.
v. to recognize the existence, truth, or validity of something. Transitive; often followed by a 'that' clause or a noun phrase.
Español:reconocer
“The government finally acknowledged that the new law was not working.”
“Historians now acknowledge the significant role that local communities played in the resistance movement during the occupation.”
02to confirm receipt
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
v. to tell someone that you have received their letter, email, or package.
v. to report the receipt of a communication or delivery to the sender.
“Please acknowledge this email so I know you got the files.”
“The department will acknowledge your application within three working days of its arrival at the central office.”
03to give credit
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
v. to publicly thank someone or show that you notice their hard work.
v. to express gratitude or give formal recognition for a benefit, favour, or contribution.
“The author acknowledged her research assistant in the first chapter of the book.”
“In the preface, the lead scientist acknowledged the generous funding provided by the national research council over the last decade.”
04to greet
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to show that you have seen someone, for example by smiling or waving.
v. to show that one has noticed or recognized someone by making a gesture or greeting.
“He acknowledged me with a small nod as he walked past my desk.”
“Despite their professional rivalry, the two CEOs acknowledged each other briefly before the conference began.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “acknowledge” in context.
Verb
01. acknowledge limitation
“It is important to acknowledge your limitations before taking on such a difficult project.”
verb + noun
02. acknowledge role
“The director was quick to acknowledge the role of the crew in the film's success.”
verb + noun
03. generally acknowledge
“It is generally acknowledged that regular exercise improves mental health.”
adv + verb
04. widely acknowledge
“She is widely acknowledged as one of the leading experts in the field of robotics.”
adv + verb
Noun
05. approach acknowledge
“As the deadline approached, he had to acknowledge that the work was not yet finished.”
noun + verb
Real-World Examples
“Iran is also hoping that the US will simply “acknowledge defeat and leave the region”, said the professor.” “Time will tell if the government will face this reality, or whether some things remain too inconvenient to acknowledge.” “When I press Langengen on how electricity prices could be reduced in practice, she acknowledges there is "no magic wand".” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/acknowledge
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0