Definition of ACKNOWLEDGE

acknowledge

Verb

  • declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
    • "She acknowledged that she might have forgotten"
  • report the receipt of
    • "The program committee acknowledged the submission of the authors of the paper"
  • express recognition of the presence or existence of, or acquaintance with
    • "He never acknowledges his colleagues when they run into him in the hallway"
    • "She acknowledged his complement with a smile"
    • "it is important to acknowledge the work of others in one's own writing"
  • express obligation, thanks, or gratitude for
    • "We must acknowledge the kindness she showed towards us"
  • accept as legally binding and valid
    • "acknowledge the deed"
  • accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
    • "The Crown Prince was acknowledged as the true heir to the throne"
  • To admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in
  • To own or recognize in a particular quality, character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to.
  • To be grateful of (e.g. a benefit or a favour)
  • To report (the receipt of a message to its sender).
  • To own as genuine or valid; to assent to (a legal instrument) to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form.

Examples

  • This is to acknowledge your kind invitation to participate in the upcoming debate.
  • to acknowledge a favor
  • to acknowledge the being of a god

Origin / 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.

Antonyms

deny

Scrabble Score: 22

acknowledge: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
acknowledge: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
acknowledge: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 26

acknowledge: valid Words With Friends Word