accept

ac‧cept S1 W1 /əkˈsept/ BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: adjective: ↑acceptable ≠ ↑unacceptable, ↑accepted; verb: ↑accept; noun: ↑acceptance; adverb: ↑acceptably ≠ ↑unacceptably]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: accepter, from Latin acceptare, from accipere 'to receive', from ad- 'to' + capere 'to take']
1. GIFT/OFFER/INVITATION [intransitive and transitive] to take something that someone offers you, or to agree to do something that someone asks you to do OPP refuse:
Rick accepted her offer of coffee.
He accepted the invitation to stay with us.
His school reports said that he is always ready to accept a challenge (=agree to do something difficult).
Please accept this small gift.
They offered me a job and I accepted.
accept something from somebody
He accepted a glass of water from Helen.
He readily accepted her invitation (=accepted it quickly).
REGISTER
In everyday English, when talking about accepting a job, accepting responsibility or blame, or accepting a method of payment, people usually use take:
▪ They offered me the job and I accepted. ➔ They offered me the job and I took it.
When talking about accepting an offer, people often say take someone up on their offer:
▪ He decided to take her up on her offer.
2. SITUATION/PROBLEM ETC [transitive] to decide that there is nothing you can do to change a difficult and unpleasant situation or fact and continue with your normal life:
He’s not going to change, and you just have to accept it.
accept that
We have to accept that this is not an ideal world.
You need to accept the fact that most of your problems are caused by jealousy.
3. THINK SOMEBODY/SOMETHING IS GOOD ENOUGH [transitive] to decide that someone has the necessary skill or intelligence for a particular job, course etc or that a piece of work is good enough OPP reject:
Students accepted by Stanford Law School had very high scores on the LSAT.
accept somebody/something as something
They have accepted him as the representative of the company.
accept somebody/something for something
Random House accepted the book for publication.
4. BECOME PART OF A GROUP [transitive] to allow someone to become part of a group, society, or organization, and to treat them in the same way as the other members OPP reject
accept somebody as something
The children gradually began to accept her as one of the family.
accept somebody into something
It often takes years for immigrants to be accepted into the host community.
5. AGREE TO TAKE/DEAL WITH SOMETHING [transitive] to agree to take or deal with something that someone gives you, or to say that it is suitable or good enough:
The government has accepted the resignation of a senior army commander.
Please accept my sincere apologies.
Sorry, we don’t accept traveller’s cheques.
6. SUGGESTION/ADVICE [transitive] to decide to do what someone suggests or advises you should do:
Be prepared to accept the advice of members of staff.
7. BELIEVE AN EXPLANATION/STATEMENT [transitive] to agree that what someone says is right or true OPP reject:
She has accepted your explanation as to why you didn’t attend the meeting.
8. accept responsibility/blame for something to admit that you were responsible for something bad that happened:
The University will not accept responsibility for items lost or stolen.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ accept an offer In the end I had to accept his offer of £4,500.
▪ accept an invitation Are you going to accept their invitation to the wedding?
▪ accept help Don’t be afraid to accept help if you need it.
▪ accept aid Egypt gratefully accepted American economic aid.
▪ accept assistance They were ready to accept French military assistance.
▪ accept a challenge To protect the environment we must accept some difficult challenges.
▪ accept an award Miller accepted the award for best comedy show.
▪ accept an opportunity I wish that I’d accepted the opportunity to retire when it was offered.
▪ accept a gift/present Accepting presents from him made her feel uncomfortable.
▪ accept a job She was desperate for money so she accepted the job.
▪ accept a lift British English, accept a ride American English I had been taught not to accept lifts from strangers.
▪ accept a bribe The president’s family and friends accepted massive bribes in exchange for official favours.
■ adverbs
▪ gladly/willingly/readily accept She invited him for a drink and he gladly accepted.
▪ gratefully accept He gratefully accepted Athena’s help.
▪ graciously accept She accepted her gift graciously.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

accept

ac·cept [accept accepts accepted accepting] [əkˈsept] [əkˈsept] verb

OFFER/INVITATION
1. intransitive, transitive to take willingly sth that is offered; to say ‘yes’ to an offer, invitation, etc
• He asked me to marry him and I accepted.
• ~ sth Please accept our sincere apologies.
• It was pouring with rain so I accepted his offer of a lift.
• She's decided not to accept the job.
• Please accept this small token of my appreciation.
• ~ sth from sb He is charged with accepting bribes from a firm of suppliers.
• ~ sth for sth She said she'd accept $15 for it.

Opp: refuse

RECEIVE AS SUITABLE

2. transitive to receive sth as suitable or good enough
• ~ sth This machine only accepts coins.
• Will you accept a cheque?

• ~ sth for sth My article has been accepted for publication.

AGREE

3. transitive to agree to or approve of sth
• ~ sth They accepted the court's decision.
• He accepted all the changes we proposed.
• Everything about the child's adoption was against accepted practice.
• ~ sth from sb She won't accept advice from anyone.

Opp: reject

RESPONSIBILITY

4. transitive ~ sth to admit that you are responsible or to blame for sth
• He accepts full responsibility for what happened.

• You have to accept the consequences of your actions.

BELIEVE

5. transitive to believe that sth is true
• ~ sth I don't accept his version of events.
• ~ sth as sth Can we accept his account as the true version?
• ~ that… I accept that this will not be popular.
• I am not prepared to accept that this decision is final.
• it is accepted that… It is generally accepted that people are motivated by success.

• it is accepted to be, have, etc. sth The workforce is generally accepted to have the best conditions in Europe.

DIFFICULT SITUATION

6. transitive to continue in a difficult situation without complaining, because you realize that you cannot change it
• ~ sth You just have to accept the fact that we're never going to be rich.
• Nothing will change as long as the workers continue to accept these appalling conditions.
• ~ sth as sth They accept the risks as part of the job.

• ~ that… He just refused to accept that his father was no longer there.

WELCOME

7. transitive to make sb feel welcome and part of a group
• ~ sb It may take years to be completely accepted by the local community.
• ~ sb into sth She had never been accepted into what was essentially a man's world.
• ~ sb as sth He never really accepted her as his own child.

Opp: reject

ALLOW SB TO JOIN

8. transitive to allow sb to join an organization, attend an institution, use a service, etc
• ~ sb The college he applied to has accepted him.
• ~ sb into sth She was disappointed not to be accepted into the club.
• ~ sb as sth The landlord was willing to accept us as tenants.
• ~ sb to do sth She was accepted to study music.
Opp: reject

Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin acceptare, frequentative of accipere ‘take something to oneself’, from ad- ‘to’ + capere ‘take’.
Thesaurus:
accept verb
1. I, T
• She decided to accept the job.
take • • take sb/sth on • • take sth up • • take sb up on sth •
Opp: refuse, (formal) Opp: decline
accept/take/take on a job/post/position/role/responsibility
accept/take/take up an offer
accept/take up a/an invitation/suggestion
accept/take on/take on a challenge
2. T
• accept a cheque
get • • receive • • collect •
accept/get/receive/collect sth from sb
accept/get/receive/collect a/an medal/award/prize
accept/get/receive treatment/payment/help
3. T
• He accepted all the changes we proposed.
agree • • approve • • go along with sb/sth • • take sth on board • |formal consent • • acquiesce •
agree/consent/acquiesce to sth
accept/agree to/approve/go along with/consent to a plan/scheme/proposal
accept/agree to/approve/go along with/acquiesce in a decision
accept/agree to/approve/take on board a suggestion
4. T
• She accepts full responsibility for what happened.
take • • carry • • shoulder • |formal assume • • bear •
accept/take/carry/shoulder/assume/bear sth for sb/sth
accept/take/carry/shoulder/assume/bear the responsibility
accept/take/carry/shoulder/bear the blame
accept/take/bear the consequences
5. T
• He could not accept the fact that he was wrong.
face • • face up to sth • • come to terms with sth • • live with sth • • make the best of sth • • resign yourself to sth • |formal reconcile sb/yourself to sth •
accept/face/face up to/come to terms with/live with/resign yourself to/reconcile yourself to the fact that…
accept/face/come to terms with/make the best of a situation
to accept/face/face up to/come to terms with the truth/the reality of sth
6. T
• She had never felt accepted into their world.
welcome • • receive •
accept/receive sb as sth
accept/receive sb into sth
7. T
• The college he applied to has accepted him.
especially BrE enrol • |AmE usually enroll • |formal admit •
accept/enrol/admit sb into sth
accept/enrol/admit sb as sth
accept/enrol/admit a candidate/member/student
Synonyms:
agree
accept • approve • go along with sb/sth • consent
These words all mean to say that you will do what sb wants or that you will allow sth to happen.
agree • to say that you will do what sb wants or that you will allow sth to happen: ▪ He agreed to let me go early.
accept • to be satisfied with sth that has been done, decided or suggested: ▪ They accepted the court's decision.
approve • to officially agree to a plan, suggestion or request: ▪ The committee unanimously approved the plan.
go along with sb/sth • (rather informal) to agree to sth that sb else has decided; to agree with sb else's ideas: ▪ She just goes along with everything he suggests.
consent • (rather formal) to agree to sth or give your permission for sth: ▪ She finally consented to answer our questions.
to agree/consent to sth
to agree/consent to do sth
to agree to/accept/approve/go along with/consent to a plan/proposal
to agree to/accept/approve a request
Example Bank:
• He would not accept my advice.
• He would not accept the fact that his father was dead.
• I accepted the gift from my sister.
• I am unfortunately unable to accept your kind invitation.
• I had no choice but to accept the committee's decision.
• I was very unwilling to accept her resignation.
• She accepted a bribe from an undercover policeman.
• She graciously accepted my apology.
• Some people readily accept that they may have to pay for medical treatment.
• The college cannot accept responsibility for items lost or stolen on its premises.
• The government now accepts the need for change.
• These figures should not be accepted at face value.
• Everything about the child's adoption was against accepted practice.
• He refused to accept that his father was no longer there.
• It was true, but hard to accept.
• Most people had come to accept that war was inevitable.
• She had never been accepted into what was essentially a man's world.
• She said she'd accept $15 for it.
• She won't accept advice from anyone.
• She's decided not to accept the job.
• The company cannot accept liability for any damage caused by natural disasters.
• They accepted the court's decision.

• You just have to accept the fact that we're never going to be rich.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

accept / əkˈsept / verb [ T ] (APPROVE)

B2 to consider something or someone as satisfactory:

The manuscript was accepted for publication last week.

She was accepted as a full member of the society.

His fellow workers refused to accept him (= to include him as one of their group) .

accept / əkˈsept / verb (TAKE)

B1 [ T ] to agree to take something:

Do you accept credit cards?

She was in London to accept an award for her latest novel.

I offered her an apology, but she wouldn't accept it.

I accept full responsibility for the failure of the plan.

The new coffee machines will accept coins of any denomination.

B1 [ I or T ] to say 'yes' to an offer or invitation:

We've offered her the job, but I don't know whether she'll accept it.

I've just accepted an invitation to the opening-night party.

I've been invited to their wedding but I haven't decided whether to accept.

accept / əkˈsept / verb [ T ] (BELIEVE)

B2 to believe that something is true:

The police refused to accept her version of the story.

He still hasn't accepted the situation (= realized that he cannot change it) .

[ + that ] I can't accept that there's nothing we can do.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

accept

[ækse̱pt]
♦
accepts, accepting, accepted
1) VERB If you accept something that you have been offered, you say yes to it or agree to take it.
  [V n] Eventually Stella persuaded her to accept an offer of marriage...
  [V n] Your old clothes will be gratefully accepted by jumble sale organisers...
  All those invited to next week's peace conference have accepted.
2) VERB If you accept an idea, statement, or fact, you believe that it is true or valid.
  [V that] I do not accept that there is any kind of crisis in British science...
  [V n] I don't think they would accept that view...
  [V n as adj/n] He did not accept this reply as valid.
  [V-ed] ...a workforce generally accepted to have the best conditions in Europe.
  Syn:
  acknowledge
3) VERB If you accept a plan or an intended action, you agree to it and allow it to happen.
  [V n] ...Britain's reluctance to accept a proposal for a single European currency...
  [V n] The Council will meet to decide if it should accept his resignation.
  Ant:
  reject
4) VERB If you accept an unpleasant fact or situation, you get used to it or recognize that it is necessary or cannot be changed.
  [V n] People will accept suffering that can be shown to lead to a greater good...
  [V n as n/adj] Urban dwellers often accept noise as part of city life...
  [V that] I wasn't willing to accept that her leaving was a possibility.
5) VERB If a person, company, or organization accepts something such as a document, they recognize that it is genuine, correct, or satisfactory and agree to consider it or handle it.
  [V n] We took the unusual step of contacting newspapers to advise them not to accept the advertising...
  [V n] Cheques can only be accepted up to the value guaranteed on the card...
  [be V-ed as n] Proof of postage will not be accepted as proof of receipt. [Also V n as n/adj]
  Ant:
  reject
6) VERB If an organization or person accepts you, you are allowed to join the organization or use the services that are offered.
  [V n] All-male groups will not be accepted.
  [V n as n] ...incentives to private landlords to accept young people as tenants. [Also V n into n]
  Ant:
  reject
7) VERB If a person or a group of people accepts you, they begin to be friendly towards you and are happy with who you are or what you do.
  [V n] As far as my grandparents were concerned, they've never had a problem accepting me...
  [V n as n] Many men still have difficulty accepting a woman as a business partner...
  [V n into n] Stephen Smith was accepted into the family like an adopted brother.
  Ant:
  reject
8) VERB If you accept the responsibility or blame for something, you recognize that you are responsible for it.
  [V n] The company cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage.
  Ant:
  reject
9) VERB If you accept someone's advice or suggestion, you agree to do what they say.
  [V n] The army refused to accept orders from the political leadership...
  [V n] Don't automatically accept the solicitor recommended by the broker.
  Ant:
  reject
10) VERB If someone's body accepts a transplanted organ, the organ becomes part of the body and starts to function normally.
  [V n] ...drugs which will fool the body into accepting transplants.
  Ant:
  reject
11) VERB If a machine accepts a particular kind of thing, it is designed to take it and deal with it or process it.
  [V n] The telephone booths accept 10 and 20 pence coins...
12) → See also accepted

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

accept

ac·cept /ɪkˈsɛpt/ verb -cepts; -cept·ed; -cept·ing
1 a : to receive or take (something offered)

[+ obj]

• accept a gift
• accept a proposal
• accept a bribe
• accept an assignment/invitation/offer
• They offered him the job, and he accepted it.

[no obj]

• They offered him the job, and he accepted.
b [+ obj] : to take (something) as payment
• The store doesn't accept credit cards.
c [+ obj] : to be able or designed to take or hold (something)
• a surface that will not accept ink
• a computer program ready to accept commands
2 [+ obj] : to agree to (something) : to agree to receive or allow (something)
• accept a telephone call
• They accepted some applications and rejected others.
• She's still trying to get her manuscript accepted for publication.
• I accept your apology.
• They refused to accept his resignation.
3 [+ obj]
a : to think of (something) as true, proper, or normal
• a word that has come to be accepted as standard
• This treatment is now accepted by many doctors.
• He refused to accept the decision.
• I accepted his advice and joined the health club.
• They accepted [=believed] her explanation.
• The theory is widely accepted as correct. = It is widely accepted that the theory is correct.
b : to stop denying or resisting (something true or necessary)
• She found it difficult to accept change.
• The truth is sometimes hard to accept.
• He behaved badly, and now he has to accept the consequences.
• He has to accept the fact that his baseball career is over. [=he has to admit that his baseball career is over]
• He was unwilling to accept [=believe] that he could no longer play as he once had.
c : to admit that you have or deserve (something, such as blame or responsibility)
• accept blame
• I accept responsibility for the accident.
d : to be willing to have or experience (something)
• To be a successful investor you have to accept some risk.
• She accepted [=took on, faced] the challenge of starting her own business.
4 [+ obj]
a : to allow (someone) to join a club, to attend a school, etc.
• The club accepted her as a member but rejected her sister.
• She was accepted at/by Georgetown University.
b : to regard (someone) as belonging to a group
• She felt that her in-laws had never really accepted her (as a member of the family).
• She doesn't yet feel accepted (by her in-laws).
• The new family was quickly accepted into the community.
- accepted adj
• an accepted practice
• an accepted definition
• a widely accepted truth
- ac·cept·er or ac·cep·tor /ɪkˈsɛptɚ/ noun, pl -ters or -tors [count]