Meaning of accept in English

  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

  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

  3. 3. give an affirmative reply to

    Examples

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

    Antonyms

  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 »
  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 »
  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 »
  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
  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 »