Meaning of accept in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /əkˈsɛpt/

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  1. Verb

    accept

    Etymology

    late Middle English: from Latin acceptare, frequentative of accipere‘take something to oneself’, from ad-‘to’ + capere‘take’

    Definitions

    1. consider or hold as true

    Examples

    • « I cannot accept the dogma of this church »
    • « accept an argument »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  2. 2. receive willingly something given or offered

    Examples

    • « The only girl who would have him was the miller's daughter »
    • « I won't have this dog in my house! »
    • « Please accept my present »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  3. 3. give an affirmative reply to

    Examples

    • « respond favorably to »
    • « I cannot accept your invitation »
    • « I go for this resolution »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  4. 4. react favorably to

    Examples

    • « consider right and proper »
    • « People did not accept atonal music at that time »
    • « We accept the idea of universal health care »

    Derived terms

  5. 5. admit into a group or community

    Examples

    • « accept students for graduate study »
    • « We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member »
  6. 6. take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person

    Examples

    • « I'll accept the charges »
    • « She agreed to bear the responsibility »

    Derived terms

  7. 7. tolerate or accommodate oneself to

    Examples

    • « I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions »
    • « I swallowed the insult »
    • « She has learned to live with her husband's little idiosyncracies »

    Derived terms

  8. 8. be designed to hold or take

    Examples

    • « This surface will not take the dye »
  9. 9. of a deliberative body: receive (a report) officially, as from a committee

    Derived terms

  10. 10. make use of or accept for some purpose

    Examples

    • « take a risk »
    • « take an opportunity »
  11. 11. be sexually responsive to, used of a female domesticated mammal

    Examples

    • « The cow accepted the bull »

Famous quotes

  • « Once you accept your own death, all of a sudden you're free to live. You no longer care about your reputation. You no longer care except so far as your life can be used tactically to promote a cause you believe in. »
    Saul Alinsky
  • « One of the most important things that I did to turn my life around was to realize and to accept that from this minute, that's all we have. Everything that happened behind us we cannot change so you might as well look to the future. »
    Nick Carter
  • « I am ready to accept all accusations, allegations, anger - but I have to succeed. »
    Boris Trajkovski
  • « This was a mutual relationship, mutual on all levels, right from the way it started and all the way through. I don't accept that he had to completely desecrate my character. »
    Monica Lewinsky
  • « Refuse to accept the belief that your professional relevance, career success or financial security turns on the next update on the latest technology. Sometimes it's good to put the paddle down and just let the canoe glide. »
    Simon Mainwaring

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