1
Core action
Accept, admit, or recognise the existence or validity of a fact, claim, limitation, or contribution.
Example
The authors acknowledge that their sample is small.
acknowledge
/əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/ · ak-NOL-ijverb
Accept, admit, or recognise the existence or validity of a fact, claim, limitation, or contribution.
Use acknowledge to express this relationship precisely: accept, admit, or recognise the existence or validity of a fact, claim, limitation, or contribution.
What acknowledge Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
Even critics acknowledge the method's improved accuracy.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
The revised article acknowledges the earlier scholar's contribution.
Use acknowledge Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The authors acknowledge that their sample is small.
Even critics acknowledge the method's improved accuracy.
The revised article acknowledges the earlier scholar's contribution.
Precision Matters
Acknowledge overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
acknowledge
vs.Means accept, admit, or recognise the existence or validity of a fact, claim, limitation, or contribution.
granted
Means accept that a point is true before introducing a qualification or counterargument.
acknowledge
vs.Means accept, admit, or recognise the existence or validity of a fact, claim, limitation, or contribution.
validate
Means support the truth, accuracy, or value of something.
acknowledge
vs.Means accept, admit, or recognise the existence or validity of a fact, claim, limitation, or contribution.
repudiate
Means reject a claim, belief, agreement, or association as false, invalid, or unacceptable.
acknowledge
vs.Means accept, admit, or recognise the existence or validity of a fact, claim, limitation, or contribution.
assert
Means to state or defend a claim confidently and directly.
Test acknowledge in Context
She admits the validity of a limitation while maintaining her broader position.
1
Although she defends the model overall, the researcher does ___ that one assumption lacks direct evidence.