# acknowledging

/ækˈnɑɫɪdʒɪŋ/ (US) · /ɐknˈɒlɪdʒɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/acknowledging
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. admitting or accepting

verb · CEFR B2

admitting that something is true or exists.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. confirming receipt

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

showing that you have received a letter, message, or gift.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. the act of recognition

noun · CEFR C1 · Archaic · Formal

the act of admitting something or showing you have seen someone.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. showing recognition

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

describing someone who notices or recognizes something.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She is acknowledging the crowd with a small wave.
- The manager is acknowledging the team's hard work by giving everyone a small bonus this month.
- By acknowledging the limitations of the current study, the researchers demonstrate a commitment to scientific integrity while inviting further investigation into the remaining variables.

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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.