accept
accept
Pronunciation
/əkˈsɛpt/
ək: The schwa sound /ə/ as in "about", followed by the /k/ sound as in "cat".
ˈsɛpt: The /s/ sound as in "sit", followed by the /ɛ/ sound as in "bed", and finally the /pt/ sound as in "apt".
Word Form Variations
The word "accept" is a verb, and here are its main word form variations:
accept (base form)
accepts (third person singular present tense)
accepted (past tense and past participle)
accepting (present participle)
acceptable (adjective)
acceptance (noun)
acceptably (adverb)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition: To willingly receive or take something offered; to agree to something; to believe or come to regard as true or right.
Synonyms: receive, take, admit, acknowledge, believe, approve, embrace, endorse
Antonyms: reject, refuse, decline, deny, dismiss, disapprove
Noun
Acceptance:
Definition: The act of accepting or the state of being accepted; agreement with or belief in an idea, opinion, or explanation.
Synonyms: approval, adoption, admission, consent, belief, understanding
Antonyms: rejection, refusal, denial, disapproval, disbelief
Adjective
Acceptable:
Definition: Worthy of being accepted; satisfactory; adequate.
Synonyms: agreeable, satisfactory, adequate, suitable, tolerable, passable
Antonyms: unacceptable, inadequate, unsuitable, intolerable, unsatisfactory
Adverb
Acceptably:
Definition: In a way that is acceptable; in a satisfactory manner.
Synonyms: adequately, sufficiently, satisfactorily, tolerably
Antonyms: unacceptably, inadequately, insufficiently, unsatisfactorily
Examples of Use
Verb
Definition: To willingly receive or take something offered; to agree to something; to believe or come to regard as true or right.
Synonyms: receive, take, admit, acknowledge, believe, approve, embrace, endorse
Antonyms: reject, refuse, decline, deny, dismiss, disapprove
Noun
Acceptance:
Definition: The act of accepting or the state of being accepted; agreement with or belief in an idea, opinion, or explanation.
Synonyms: approval, adoption, admission, consent, belief, understanding
Antonyms: rejection, refusal, denial, disapproval, disbelief
Adjective
Acceptable:
Definition: Worthy of being accepted; satisfactory; adequate.
Synonyms: agreeable, satisfactory, adequate, suitable, tolerable, passable
Antonyms: unacceptable, inadequate, unsuitable, intolerable, unsatisfactory
Adverb
Acceptably:
Definition: In a way that is acceptable; in a satisfactory manner.
Synonyms: adequately, sufficiently, satisfactorily, tolerably
Antonyms: unacceptably, inadequately, insufficiently, unsatisfactorily
10 Famous Quotes Using Accept
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." — Reinhold Niebuhr
"The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance." — Brian Tracy
"Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be." — Sonia Ricotti
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." — Martin Luther King Jr.
"Happiness can exist only in acceptance." — George Orwell
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change." — Carl Rogers
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Accept no imitations." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else." — Les Brown
"Don’t accept the applause of men, and you won’t be destroyed by their criticism." — Lecrae
"You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give." — Eleanor Roosevelt
Etymology
Imagine you're a Roman citizen way back in the day, and someone offers you a gift. If you take it, you're "accipere" it – that's the old Latin word where "accept" comes from. It's like you're actively reaching out and taking something.
This Latin word was made up of two parts: "ad" meaning "to" and "capere" meaning "to take". So, you're taking something "to" yourself.
Over time, this word travelled from Latin to Old French ("accepter") and finally landed in English around the 14th century as "accept." At first, it mostly meant taking something offered, like that Roman gift. But as English grew, so did the meaning of "accept." It started to include things like agreeing to ideas, believing in things, and even just making peace with something.
So, the next time you "accept" a compliment or "accept" an apology, remember that you're using a word with a long history, going all the way back to those gift-giving Romans!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Accept
Common Phrases:
Accept responsibility/blame: To acknowledge one's fault in a situation.
Accept defeat: To admit loss or failure.
Accept an offer/invitation: To agree to something proposed.
Accept terms/conditions: To agree to rules or stipulations.
Less-known Phrases:
Accept someone for who they are: To embrace someone's true nature without judgment.
Accept the consequences: To face the results of one's actions.
Original Phrases:
Accept the silence: To find peace in quietude.
Accept the unknown: To embrace uncertainty and possibilities.
Idioms with Synonyms:
Embrace the challenge (similar to "accept the challenge"): To willingly take on a difficult task.
Take the good with the bad (similar to "accept the good with the bad"): To acknowledge that life has both positive and negative aspects.
Make peace with the past (similar to "accept the past"): To come to terms with past events and move forward.
Swallow your pride (similar to "accept being wrong"): To admit fault despite feeling humiliated.
While "accept" might not be the star of many idioms, it still packs a punch in these phrases, highlighting themes of responsibility, understanding, and embracing reality.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of accept from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
