Library / English Dictionary

ACKNOWLEDGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority

Example:

We do not recognize your gods

Synonyms:

acknowledge; know; recognise; recognize

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "acknowledge" is one way to...):

accept (consider or hold as true)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

acknowledgment (a statement acknowledging something or someone)

acknowledgment (the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Accept as legally binding and valid

Example:

acknowledge the deed

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "acknowledge" is one way to...):

accept (consider or hold as true)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

Example:

She acknowledged that she might have forgotten

Synonyms:

acknowledge; admit

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "acknowledge" is one way to...):

adjudge; declare; hold (declare to be)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "acknowledge"):

attorn (acknowledge a new land owner as one's landlord)

write off (concede the loss or worthlessness of something or somebody)

make no bones about (acknowledge freely and openly)

sustain (admit as valid)

concede; confess; profess (admit (to a wrongdoing))

confess (confess to God in the presence of a priest, as in the Catholic faith)

confess; fink; squeal (confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure)

avouch; avow (admit openly and bluntly; make no bones about)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

acknowledgeable (capable of being acknowledged)

acknowledgment (the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Express obligation, thanks, or gratitude for

Example:

We must acknowledge the kindness she showed towards us

Synonyms:

acknowledge; recognise; recognize

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "acknowledge" is one way to...):

give thanks; thank (express gratitude or show appreciation to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "acknowledge"):

appreciate (recognize with gratitude; be grateful for)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

acknowledgment (a statement acknowledging something or someone)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Report the receipt of

Example:

The program committee acknowledged the submission of the authors of the paper

Synonyms:

acknowledge; receipt

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "acknowledge" is one way to...):

communicate; pass; pass along; pass on; put across (transmit information)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Sense 6

Meaning:

Express recognition of the presence or existence of, or acquaintance with

Example:

it is important to acknowledge the work of others in one's own writing

Synonyms:

acknowledge; notice

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "acknowledge" is one way to...):

react; respond (show a response or a reaction to something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "acknowledge"):

cite; mention (commend)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

acknowledgment (a statement acknowledging something or someone)

acknowledgment (a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage)

Credits

 Context examples: 

While the researchers acknowledge that implementing this process in conventional reverse osmosis systems is taxing, they propose a spiral-wound module system, similar to a roll of towels.

(Novel Technology Uses Bacteria for Cleaning Water, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Dr Hunt has long acknowledged that measuring humans' exposure to BPAs is difficult - but argues that that is all the more reason to air on the side of caution.

(Humans exposed to far more hormone-disrupting chemicals than thought, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Hirtenberger Defence Group also acknowledged the deal.

(Hungarian state-owned enterprise acquires Hirtenberger Defence Group, Wikinews)

For the first time his arms folded her gently and with sympathy, and she acknowledged it with a happy movement and a brightening face.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But, however, I shall so far do justice to this part of the Academy, as to acknowledge that all of them were not so visionary.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

At long last, your talents will be acknowledged, appreciated, and applauded.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Scientists participating in workshops in the U.S. and U.K. in the past year acknowledged that the future activity of the glacier is an unknown and a potential major concern.

(West Antarctica's largest glacier may have started retreating as early as the 1940s, NSF)

While the study authors acknowledge that insecticide use can’t be eliminated completely, they say using natural predators can significantly reduce the amounts of chemicals needed.

(Study estimates true value of ladybird as biocontrol, SciDev.Net)

I ax your pardon, sir, acknowledging you for to be captaing at this present; but I claim my right, and steps outside for a council.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Come in, Sir Charles, and I am convinced that you will acknowledge that I could not have done otherwise.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)