acknowledge
verb
ac·knowl·edge
ik-ˈnä-lij 
ak-
acknowledged; acknowledging
1
: to recognize the rights, authority, or status of
They acknowledged him as their leader.
2
: to disclose knowledge of or agreement with
She readily acknowledged her mistake.
3
a
: to express gratitude or obligation for
acknowledge a gift
b
: to take notice of
failed to acknowledge my greeting
c
: to make known the receipt of
acknowledge a letter
4
: to recognize as genuine or valid
acknowledge a debt
Synonyms
Examples of acknowledge in a Sentence
They acknowledged that the decision was a mistake.
Do you acknowledge that you caused this mess?
They readily acknowledged their mistake.
She won't acknowledge responsibility for her actions.
He quickly acknowledges all of my e-mails when he receives them.
Please acknowledge receipt of this letter.
She acknowledged the gift with a card.
She acknowledged his greeting with a smile.
Recent Examples on the Web
The company acknowledges the risks associated with its business, including the potential for complete loss of capital invested or borrowed.
—
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
The groups challenged just how large Trump’s gains were with people of color, particularly among Latino men, but acknowledged that the gains were significant, as was the Latino gender divide.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Biden's remarks in Arizona's Gila River Indian Community will mark the first time a U.S. president has both formally acknowledged and apologized for the policy that saw abuses occur for more than 150 years and which the United Nations regards as genocide.
—Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
Over two decades of leadership missteps have eroded trust in the company from shareholders, customers, regulators, and workers alike, something new CEO Kelly Ortberg acknowledged on the company’s earnings call Wednesday.
—Greg McKenna, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for acknowledge 
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Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
The groups challenged just how large Trump’s gains were with people of color, particularly among Latino men, but acknowledged that the gains were significant, as was the Latino gender divide.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Biden's remarks in Arizona's Gila River Indian Community will mark the first time a U.S. president has both formally acknowledged and apologized for the policy that saw abuses occur for more than 150 years and which the United Nations regards as genocide.
—Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
Over two decades of leadership missteps have eroded trust in the company from shareholders, customers, regulators, and workers alike, something new CEO Kelly Ortberg acknowledged on the company’s earnings call Wednesday.
—Greg McKenna, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for acknowledge
Dictionary Entries Near acknowledge
Cite this Entry
“Acknowledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acknowledge. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
acknowledge
verb
ac·knowl·edge
ik-ˈnäl-ij
ak-
acknowledged; acknowledging
1
: to recognize the rights or authority of
2
: to admit the truth or existence of
3
: to make known that something has been received or noticed
acknowledge a letter
Legal Definition
acknowledge
transitive verb
ac·knowl·edge
acknowledged; acknowledging
1
: to indicate recognition and acceptance of
the power of taxation in the general and state governments is acknowledged to be concurrent—McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819)
McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819)2
a
: to show by word or act that one has knowledge of and accepts responsibility for (a duty, obligation, or indebtedness)
b
: to admit paternity of
will acknowledge the child as his
compare filiate
3
: to make known to a sender or giver the receipt of (what has been sent or given) or the fact of (one's having received what has been sent or given)
acknowledge receipt of a letter
4
: to recognize as genuine so as to give validity : avow or admit in legal form
the execution of any such power of attorney shall be acknowledged before one of the officers—U.S. Code
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