Word
acknowledging
Phoneticsac·knowl·edg·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/ækˈnɑɫɪdʒɪŋ/
UK/ɐknˈɒlɪdʒɪŋ/
Definitions
01admitting or accepting
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. admitting that something is true or exists.
v. accepting or admitting the existence or truth of something. Transitive — requires a direct object or a 'that' clause.
“Acknowledging his mistake was the first step toward fixing the problem.”
“By acknowledging the systemic failures within the department, the director paved the way for comprehensive structural reform.”
Usage
Often used as a gerund at the start of a sentence to establish a premise.
02confirming receipt
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
v. showing that you have received a letter, message, or gift.
v. confirming the receipt of a communication or item. Transitive — typically takes the received item as the object.
“Thank you for acknowledging my email so quickly.”
“The clerk spent the morning acknowledging the influx of formal applications that had arrived over the weekend.”
Usage
Common in professional and legal correspondence.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03the act of recognition
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Archaic · Formal
n. the act of admitting something or showing you have seen someone.
n. the action of expressing recognition or admission. Used as a verbal noun.
“The king gave a brief acknowledging of the crowd's cheers.”
“The document provides a formal acknowledging of the debt owed to the estate.”
Teaching tip
In modern English, the noun 'acknowledgment' is almost always preferred over the gerund 'acknowledging' for this sense.
Synonyms
Antonyms
04showing recognition
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. describing someone who notices or recognizes something.
adj. characterised by the act of noticing or recognising. Often used in a participial sense to describe a look or gesture.
“She gave him an acknowledging nod as she walked past his desk.”
“He offered an acknowledging smile, silently confirming that he had heard the secret instructions despite the loud music.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The streamer also says the badge will relate to the "artist's public identity" and not about "how the music was made", acknowledging that AI tools are being used in some human music creation now.” “The Romanovs released a bulletin acknowledging that the young heir was on the brink of death after a particularly serious incident.” “The COVID pandemic showed that governments can go a long way in recognizing—counting, naming, acknowledging, and memorializing—the dead in mass death events.” Etymology
From acknowledge + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/acknowledging