Acknowledge
Acknowledge verb - To accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly.
Usage example: finally had to acknowledge that she'd outgrown her favorite jacket
Recognize is a synonym for acknowledge in admit topic. In some cases you can use "Recognize" instead a verb "Acknowledge", when it comes to topics like greet, confess, endorse, affirm. popular alternative
Recognize
Recognize verb - To show appreciation, respect, or affection for (someone) with a public celebration.
Usage example: an awards banquet to recognize local heroes
Acknowledge is a synonym for recognize in admit topic. You can use "Acknowledge" instead a verb "Recognize", if it concerns topics such as approve, confess, endorse, affirm. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- greet and acknowledge
- greet and recognize
- recognise and acknowledge
- recognise and recognize
- salute and acknowledge
- salute and recognize
- grant and acknowledge
- grant and recognize
- allow and acknowledge
- allow and recognize
- approve and acknowledge
- approve and recognize
- appreciate and acknowledge
- appreciate and recognize
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
- Here Beatrice wants Battler to remember his sin of six years ago just as Dante had to recognize and acknowledge his sins before ascending to Heaven.
Source: Whole Plot Reference - Several supernatural individuals actually express shock that people like Tony and CB recognize the paranormal on sight and acknowledge that it is real without first going through denial.
Source: Literature / Smoke and Shadows -
Renly is more intelligent on the show than in the books, so he would recognize that it's a smart political move to symbolically acknowledge the importance of his wife's family.
Cite this Source
Recognize and Acknowledge. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/acknowledge/recognize
Acknowledge & Recognize. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/acknowledge/recognize>.
Recognize or Acknowledge. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/acknowledge/recognize.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "acknowledge" and "recognize" have occurred on timeline