(acknowledges, acknowledging, acknowledged)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If you acknowledge a fact or a situation, you accept or admit that it is true or that it exists. (FORMAL)
Naylor acknowledged, in a letter to the judge, that he was a drug addict...
Belatedly, the government has acknowledged the problem...
There is an acknowledged risk of lung cancer from radon.
= recognize
VERB: V that, V n, V-ed
2.
If someone's achievements, status, or qualities are acknowledged, they are known about and recognized by a lot of people, or by a particular group of people.
He is also acknowledged as an excellent goal-keeper...
Some of the clergy refused to acknowledge the new king's legitimacy.
= recognize
VERB: be V-ed as n, V n, also V n to-inf
3.
If you acknowledge a message or letter, you write to the person who sent it in order to say that you have received it.
The army sent me a postcard acknowledging my request.
VERB: V n
4.
If you acknowledge someone, for example by moving your head or smiling, you show that you have seen and recognized them.
He saw her but refused to even acknowledge her.
VERB: V n