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
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
Sburlati touted the draft law — which needs to be voted on by the Senate and then by the Chamber of Deputies and related committee — while acknowledging defeat on the amendment for now.
—
Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Louise Hémon The jury would also like to acknowledge a director whose film transported us into an extreme landscape, and created an unsettling atmosphere that kept us contemplating the nature of lust, education, and violence.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
In his interview with CNN, Noboa acknowledged the worsening homicide statistics, but pushed back by claiming that a greater percentage of the killings involved criminal-on-criminal violence.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Though he's acknowledged some frustration about the strategy within the GOP caucus, Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the chamber away from voting as part of an effort to pressure Senate Democrats.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acknowledge
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Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Louise Hémon The jury would also like to acknowledge a director whose film transported us into an extreme landscape, and created an unsettling atmosphere that kept us contemplating the nature of lust, education, and violence.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
In his interview with CNN, Noboa acknowledged the worsening homicide statistics, but pushed back by claiming that a greater percentage of the killings involved criminal-on-criminal violence.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Though he's acknowledged some frustration about the strategy within the GOP caucus, Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the chamber away from voting as part of an effort to pressure Senate Democrats.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acknowledge
Cite this Entry
“Acknowledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acknowledge. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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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