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widely recognized; generally accepted:
an acknowledged authority on chinese art.
to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of:
to acknowledge one’s mistakes.
to show or express recognition or realization of:
to acknowledge an acquaintance by nodding.
to recognize the authority, validity, or claims of:
the students acknowledged the authority of the student council.
to show or express appreciation or grat-tude for:
to acknowledge a favor.
to indicate or make known the receipt of:
to acknowledge a letter.
to take notice of or reply to:
to acknowledge a greeting.
law. to confirm as binding or of legal force:
to acknowledge a deed.
contemporary examples

“i was a n-body there,” sisler insisted in a telephone interview, during which he slurred his words and acknowledged he was drunk.
patients screwed in spine surgery ‘scam’ the center for investigative reporting november 2, 2014

the kids allied themselves with their mothers in the battle to be seen and acknowledged by their father.
a cult child’s journey through h-ll maia szalavitz may 21, 2009

she asked to be recognized, and called out for attention when she was not acknowledged, at which point she continued to speak.
lawmaker banned from speaking after referring to her v-g-n- in abortion debate allison yarrow june 13, 2012

parry acknowledged that the krim tragedy has provoked anxiety among parents.
the stranger inside your house: terrified by the alleged killer nanny paula froelich october 25, 2012

he acknowledged this reality with all that executive order business, and that was good.
will obama ever play hardball? michael tomasky january 28, 2014

historical examples

the boy was, linda acknowledged, more than commonly dependable and able.
linda condon joseph hergesheimer

the inestimable value of our federal union is felt and acknowledged by all.
united states presidents’ inaugural speeches various

as soon as she saw me, she favoured me with a smile which i acknowledged by a deep reverence; that was all.
the memoires of casanova, complete jacques casanova de seingalt

you have acknowledged, that he has nothing to boast of from them.
clarissa, volume 1 (of 9) samuel richardson

aratus, the chief of sicyon, was an acknowledged judge of paintings, and sicyon was then the first school of greece.
history of egypt from 330 b.c. to the present time, volume 10 (of 12) s. rappoport

verb (transitive)
(may take a clause as object) to recognize or admit the existence, truth, or reality of
to indicate recognition or awareness of, as by a greeting, glance, etc
to express appreciation or thanks for: to acknowledge a gift
to make the receipt of known to the sender: to acknowledge a letter
to recognize, esp in legal form, the authority, rights, or claims of
v.

1550s, a blend of middle english aknow (from old english oncnawan “understand,” from on + cnawan “recognize;” see know) and middle english knowlechen “admit, acknowledge” (c.1200; see knowledge). in the merger, a parasitic -c- slipped in, so that while the kn- became a simple “n” sound (as in know), the -c- stepped up to preserve, in this word, the ancient “kn-” sound. related: acknowledged; acknowledging.