{
    "term": "acknowledge",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "academic": true,
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "acknowledge",
            "heSheIt": "acknowledges"
        },
        "pastSimple": "acknowledged",
        "pastParticiple": "acknowledged",
        "ingForm": "acknowledging"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to accept that something is true",
            "sensetop": "acknowledge somethingacknowledge that…acknowledge something to be, have, etc. something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She refuses to acknowledge the need for reform.",
                    "contextForm": "acknowledge something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I have to **acknowledge the fact** that I am partly responsible."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's a generally acknowledged fact."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Most people acknowledge the existence of evil."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to openly/publicly/readily acknowledge something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He does not acknowledge that he has done anything wrong.",
                    "contextForm": "acknowledge that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is generally acknowledged to be true.",
                    "contextForm": "acknowledge something to be, have, etc. something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A mental illness can exist for years before families are forced to acknowledge the truth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a truth that is universally acknowledged"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Are you prepared to acknowledge your responsibility?"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["fully", "freely", "readily"],
                "verb + acknowledge": ["fail to", "refuse to", "be forced to"],
                "phrases": [
                    "be generally acknowledged",
                    "be universally acknowledged",
                    "be widely acknowledged"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to accept that somebody/something has a particular authority or status",
            "sensetop": "acknowledge somebody/somethingbe acknowledged as somethingbe acknowledged to be, have, etc. something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The country acknowledged his claim to the throne.",
                    "contextForm": "acknowledge somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The peace settlement effectively acknowledged the country's independence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He is **widely acknowledged **as the best player in the world.",
                    "contextForm": "be acknowledged as something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He is **widely acknowledged **to be the best player in the world.",
                    "contextForm": "be acknowledged to be, have, etc. something"
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "recognize",
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["fully", "freely", "readily"],
                "verb + acknowledge": ["fail to", "refuse to", "be forced to"],
                "phrases": [
                    "be generally acknowledged",
                    "be universally acknowledged",
                    "be widely acknowledged"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to tell somebody that you have received something that they sent to you",
            "sensetop": "acknowledge something",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "All applications will be acknowledged."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Please acknowledge receipt of this letter."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I hereby acknowledge receipt of your letter of 25 July."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The company duly acknowledged receipt of the letter."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to show that you have noticed somebody/something by smiling, waving, etc.",
            "sensetop": "acknowledge somebody/something",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I was standing right next to her, but she didn't even acknowledge me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He waved, acknowledging the applause."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They barely acknowledged each other."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He did not even acknowledge the question."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to publicly express thanks for help you have been given",
            "sensetop": "acknowledge something",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I **gratefully acknowledge** financial support from several local businesses."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He is always ready to acknowledge his debt to his teachers."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["fully", "freely", "readily"],
                "verb + acknowledge": ["fail to", "refuse to", "be forced to"],
                "phrases": [
                    "be generally acknowledged",
                    "be universally acknowledged",
                    "be widely acknowledged"
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/",
                "audio": "ac/acknowledge/acknowledge__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əkˈnɒlɪdʒɪz/",
                "audio": "ac/acknowledge/acknowledges__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əkˈnɒlɪdʒd/",
                "audio": "ac/acknowledge/acknowledged__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əkˈnɒlɪdʒɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ac/acknowledge/acknowledging__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əkˈnɑːlɪdʒ/",
                "audio": "ac/acknowledge/acknowledge__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əkˈnɑːlɪdʒɪz/",
                "audio": "ac/acknowledge/acknowledges__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əkˈnɑːlɪdʒd/",
                "audio": "ac/acknowledge/acknowledged__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/əkˈnɑːlɪdʒɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ac/acknowledge/acknowledging__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late 15th cent.: from the obsolete Middle English verb knowledge, influenced by obsolete acknow ‘acknowledge, confess’."
}