acknowledgment
gb/æknˈɑlɪd͡ʒmənt/ us/æknˈɑlɪd͡ʒmənt/
B2
English
~ 8000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
confirmation that something was received
Something you say, write, or do to show that you got or saw something.
Usage pattern:
an acknowledgment of [receipt / an email / an order]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the noun "acknowledgment" with the verb "to acknowledge" and write sentences like *"I acknowledgment your email"*. Correct usage is "I acknowledge your email" (verb) or "Thank you for your acknowledgment" (noun).
Synonyms
confirmation (A very close synonym; often used for official or practical situations like emails, bookings, or payments.)
|
receipt (Usually refers to a document proving payment, while an acknowledgment can confirm receiving many kinds of things, not only money.)
Antonyms
silence (If there is no reply or sign at all, it is the opposite of giving an acknowledgment.)
Collocations
written acknowledgment
|formal acknowledgment
|acknowledgment of receipt
|email acknowledgment
|receive an acknowledgment
|send an acknowledgment
Themes
communication
|business
|work
Examples
- I never received an acknowledgment of my application.
- The company sent an automatic acknowledgment of receipt by email.
- By clicking this box, you are making an acknowledgment that you have read the terms.
- She gave a brief nod as an acknowledgment that she had heard him.
- Please sign and return this form as acknowledgment of delivery.
Learner examples
- I got an email acknowledgment from the hotel.
- There was no acknowledgment of my message.
- He sent a short acknowledgment to say he got the report.
- Please write an acknowledgment when the package arrives.
- Her smile was an acknowledgment that she understood.
Noun
C1
entity
2
admission that something is true
Saying or showing that something is true or real, especially something bad or hard to accept.
Usage pattern:
an acknowledgment of [guilt / responsibility / a problem]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse "confession" in serious or criminal contexts where the more general word "acknowledgment" is better, for example in politics or business. "Confession" suggests admitting a moral or legal crime, while "acknowledgment" can be used for any kind of truth or responsibility.
Synonyms
admission (Often used when someone openly accepts blame, guilt, or a difficult truth.)
|
recognition (Stresses accepting that something exists or is important, sometimes more neutral than "admission".)
Antonyms
denial (Refusing to accept or say that something is true is the direct opposite of acknowledgment in this sense.)
Collocations
public acknowledgment
|tacit acknowledgment
|acknowledgment of guilt
|acknowledgment of responsibility
|acknowledgment of reality
|acknowledgment of the problem
Themes
communication
|law
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- His resignation was widely seen as an acknowledgment of failure.
- The report is an important acknowledgment of the scale of the crisis.
- There has been no official acknowledgment of the government's mistake.
- Her apology was an acknowledgment of the hurt she had caused.
- Their silence was taken as a tacit acknowledgment of responsibility.
Learner examples
- The letter is an acknowledgment of his past errors.
- Her words were an open acknowledgment of the problem.
- There was no clear acknowledgment of their role in the war.
- His smile was an acknowledgment of the truth.
- The change in rules is an acknowledgment that the old system failed.
Noun
B2
entity
3
formal thanks or credit
Public or formal words that thank someone for their help or support.
Usage pattern:
an acknowledgment to [someone] for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "acknowledgment" with "acknowledgements" (plural) in books. The usual heading in a book is "Acknowledgments" because it lists many separate thanks. The uncountable noun "acknowledgment" is used more generally for the act or idea.
Synonyms
recognition (Focuses on giving credit or honor, sometimes more formal than simple thanks.)
|
appreciation (Emphasizes warm, personal thanks rather than official or written credit.)
Antonyms
ingratitude (Not showing any thanks or recognition is the opposite of giving an acknowledgment in this sense.)
Collocations
special acknowledgment
|public acknowledgment
|acknowledgment section
|book acknowledgments
|in the acknowledgments
|give acknowledgment
Themes
culture
|academia
|work
|communication
|relationships
Examples
- She thanked her family in the acknowledgments at the end of the book.
- The film includes a brief acknowledgment of the donors who funded the project.
- He received special acknowledgment for his years of community service.
- The researchers gave formal acknowledgment to the institute that supported their work.
- In her speech, there was a touching acknowledgment of her parents' sacrifices.
Learner examples
- His name appears in the acknowledgments of the report.
- The author wrote a long acknowledgment to her teachers.
- We should give acknowledgment to everyone who helped.
- There was no acknowledgment of the volunteers in the program.
- She made a short acknowledgment of her team during the ceremony.
Noun
B2
entity
4
gesture showing recognition or notice
A small move, like a nod or smile, that shows you see or accept someone or something.
Usage pattern:
a [nod / smile] of acknowledgment
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use "acknowledgment" as a verb in this sense (*"He acknowledgment me"*). The correct forms are the noun "acknowledgment" ("a nod of acknowledgment") and the verb "acknowledge" ("He acknowledged me with a nod").
Synonyms
gesture (A more general word for any movement that communicates something; "acknowledgment" stresses that the gesture shows recognition.)
|
nod (Names a specific kind of acknowledgment gesture using the head.)
Antonyms
snub (Deliberately not noticing or not responding to someone is the social opposite of giving an acknowledging gesture.)
Collocations
a nod of acknowledgment
|a brief acknowledgment
|a slight acknowledgment
|acknowledgment of her presence
|gesture of acknowledgment
Themes
daily life
|communication
|social interaction
|relationships
Examples
- He gave her a quick nod of acknowledgment as he entered the room.
- The driver raised a hand in acknowledgment when I let him pass.
- She walked by without the slightest acknowledgment of his greeting.
- The crowd's applause was an acknowledgment of his performance.
- He offered a faint smile of acknowledgment before turning away.
Learner examples
- He gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
- She passed me without any acknowledgment.
- The wave of her hand was an acknowledgment that she saw me.
- The students clapped in acknowledgment of the teacher.
- His smile was a clear acknowledgment of my help.
Grammar
Dictionary form
acknowledgment
IPA
GB/æknˈɑlɪd͡ʒmənt/
US/æknˈɑlɪd͡ʒmənt/
Syllables & stress
ac - know - ledg - ment (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (know)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: acknowledgment
- Plural: acknowledgment, acknowledgments
Word family
Forms
acknowledgments
noun
Core family
acknowledge
verb B2
Related words
acknowledgement
noun B2
acknowledged
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unacknowledged
adjective
Expressions
a nod of acknowledgment
1/ə nˈɑd əv æknˈɑlɪd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
small head movement showing recognition
A small movement of the head that shows you see, know, or thank someone.
Examples
- She gave him a nod of acknowledgment as she walked past.
- The driver offered a quick nod of acknowledgment when I let him merge into my lane.
- He greeted me with a quiet nod of acknowledgment from across the room.
acknowledgment of receipt
1/æknˈɑlɪd͡ʒmənt əv ɹɪsˈit/
fixed phrase
formal
document confirming something was received
A short written note or email that says something has been received.
Examples
- Please sign the acknowledgment of receipt and return it to us.
- You will receive an acknowledgment of receipt once your application has been processed.
- The courier asked me to provide an acknowledgment of receipt for the package.
in acknowledgment of
1/ˈɪn æknˈɑlɪd͡ʒmənt əv/
fixed phrase
formal
as recognition or thanks for
Used to say that something is done to show thanks or respect for a person or thing.
Examples
- The award was given in acknowledgment of her years of service.
- They planted a tree in acknowledgment of his contribution to the project.
- He received a medal in acknowledgment of his bravery.