Join free

acknowledge

English · Thesaurus

AI In plain words

Writing a short explanation…

Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

acknowledge

  • /əkˈnɒl.ɪd͡ʒ/ UK
  • [əkˈnɒɫ.ɪd͡ʒ] UK
  • [əɡˈnɒɫ.ɪd͡ʒ] UK
  • /əkˈnɑ.lɪd͡ʒ/ US
  • [əkˈnɑ.ləd͡ʒ] US
  • [ɪkˈnɑ.lɪd͡ʒ] US
  • [əɡˈnɑ.ləd͡ʒ] US
  • [ɪɡˈnɑ.lɪd͡ʒ] US
  • [ɪɡˈnɑ.ləd͡ʒ] US

Rhymes with -ɒlɪdʒ

Where it comes from

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.

verb acknowledges · acknowledging · acknowledged · acknowledg · acknowelege

  1. transitive To admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in. to acknowledge the being of a god

    Similar: avow, recognize, admit

  2. transitive To own or recognize in a particular quality, character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to. By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee.

    Similar: recognize, admit, allow, concede, confess, own, grant

  3. transitive To be grateful of (e.g. a benefit or a favour) to acknowledge a favor
  4. transitive To report (the receipt of a message to its sender). This is to acknowledge your kind invitation to participate in the upcoming debate.
  5. transitive To own as genuine or valid; to assent to (a legal instrument) to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form. One who has been sheriff may acknowledge a deed executed by him while in office.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: admit, recognize, know, receipt, notice, mention, cite, acknowledgment, avow, affirm, confirmation, allow, accept, approve, endorse, tribute

Translations

Every language

verb to own with gratitude

Portuguêsreconhecer
العربيةشَكَرَ šakara

verb to admit the knowledge of

Españolreconocer
한국어승인하다 seung'inhada, 인정하다 injeonghada
日本語承認する shōnin suru, 認める mitomeru
中文承認 /承认 chéngrèn
हिन्दीस्वीकार करना svīkār karnā
Portuguêsreconhecer
Françaisreconnaître
Deutschzur Kenntnis nehmen, erkennen, bekennen
Italianoriconoscere, ammettere
Ελληνικάαναγνωρίζω anagnorízo
Românărecunoaște
Русскийпризнава́ть priznavátʹ, призна́ть priznátʹ

verb to admit the claims or authority of

Españolreconocer, acatar
Portuguêsreconhecer, admitir
Deutschanerkennen
Italianoriconoscere

verb to notify receipt

Españolacusar recibo, confirmar que se recibió
Portuguêsconfirmar
Françaisaccuser réception
Deutschden Empfang bestätigen
Italianoconfermare
Русскийподтвержда́ть podtverždátʹ, подтверди́ть podtverdítʹ

verb to own as genuine or valid

Portuguêsreconhecer
Françaiscertifier

Talk about this word

Cite this
MLA

"acknowledge." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/acknowledge. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

acknowledge. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/acknowledge

Chicago

"acknowledge." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/acknowledge.

BibTeX
@misc{acknowledge_2026,
  title = {acknowledge},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/acknowledge},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}