Pronunciation: ik-
näl-ij, ak-Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -edged; -edg·ing
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>
synonyms ACKNOWLEDGE, ADMIT, OWN, CONFESS mean to make public something one would rather keep private. ACKNOWLEDGE suggests revealing something that has been or might be concealed <the company acknowledged that it had been polluting the lake>. ADMIT stresses a demand to reveal and an unwillingness to do so <why don't you admit that you made a mistake?>. OWN suggests acknowledging something of a personal nature <I own that I can be rude sometimes>. CONFESS suggests an admission of weakness, failure, or guilt <confessed involvement in the scam>.
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