accept
A1Neutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
To willingly receive or agree to something offered or proposed.
To acknowledge or recognize as valid, correct, or inevitable; to tolerate or accommodate a difficult situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies consent or agreement. In a social context, it can mean to receive someone as part of a group. For invitations or offers, 'accept' is the direct opposite of 'decline' or 'reject'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical differences. The spelling is the same. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Identical core connotations.
Frequency
Equal, extremely high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[accept + NP][accept + that-clause][accept + NP + as + NP/Adj][accept + NP + into/at/in]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “accept the inevitable”
- “accept face value”
- “accept with open arms”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To formally agree to terms of a contract, job offer, or settlement.
Academic
To adopt a theory or hypothesis; to acknowledge a point in an argument.
Everyday
To take something offered; to say 'yes' to an invitation.
Technical
In IT, for a system to receive data or a connection (e.g., 'the server accepts requests').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She decided to accept the post in Manchester.
- We accept all major credit cards.
- The council accepted the new planning application.
American English
- He accepted the job in Texas.
- The software accepts multiple file formats.
- The court accepted the defendant's plea.
adjective
British English
- The widely accepted view is that climate change is accelerating.
- It is an accepted practice to queue here.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I accept your gift. Thank you!
- Do you accept euros here?
- Please accept my apology.
- He accepted the invitation to the wedding.
- She found it hard to accept the criticism.
- The machine only accepts coins.
- The university accepted her application for the Master's programme.
- After a long debate, the committee accepted the proposal.
- You must accept the terms and conditions to continue.
- The scientific community has been slow to accept this radical new theory.
- He stoically accepted his fate.
- The ambassador was accepted into the highest circles of diplomatic society.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'access' to a party. You need to be ACCEPTed to gain ACCESS.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCEPTING IS SWALLOWING / TAKING IN (e.g., 'He couldn't swallow the truth' parallels 'He couldn't accept the truth').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'agree' (соглашаться). One 'accepts' an offer, but 'agrees to' a proposal or condition.
- Do not confuse with 'receive' (получать). 'Receive' is passive; 'accept' involves a conscious decision.
- Avoid using 'accept' for 'like' or 'approve of'.
Common Mistakes
- Mistaking 'except' (preposition) for 'accept' (verb) in writing.
- Using 'accept to do something' (incorrect) instead of 'agree to do something'.
- Overusing 'get' as a synonym where 'accept' is more precise (e.g., 'I got the job' vs. 'I accepted the job').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'accept' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Accept' is a verb meaning to receive or agree. 'Except' is usually a preposition or conjunction meaning 'not including' or 'but'.
Yes, but it's less common. The progressive form emphasizes the ongoing process of coming to terms with something (e.g., 'I am slowly accepting the situation') rather than a single moment of agreement.
The main noun forms are 'acceptance' (the act of accepting) and, less commonly, 'acceptor' (someone or something that accepts, often in technical contexts).
It is 'agree to do'. The pattern 'accept to do' is not standard. Use 'agree to do', 'accept doing', or 'accept + noun' (e.g., 'accept an offer to do').