Standard Lemma guide

acceptance

noun · 17 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /əkˈsɛp.təns/
  • California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian, New-Zealand: /əkˈsep.təns/
  • Queensland Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AE0 K S EH1 P T AH0 N S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: AH0 K S EH1 P T AH0 N S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of accepting; the receiving of something offered, with acquiescence, approbation, or satisfaction; especially, favourable reception; approval.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • the acceptance of a gift, office, doctrine, etc.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An instance of that act.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Belief in something; agreement, assent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The state of being accepted.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The usual or accepted meaning of a word or expression.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

An assent and engagement by the person on whom a bill of exchange is drawn, to pay it when due according to the terms of the acceptance; the bill of exchange itself when accepted.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

An agreeing to the action, proposals, or terms of another by some act which results in the conclusion of a legally binding contract; the reception or taking of a thing bought as that for which it was bought, or as that agreed to be delivered, or the taking of possession of a thing as owner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

The act of an authorized representative of the government by which the government assents to ownership of existing and identified supplies, or approves specific services rendered, as partial or complete performance of a contract.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, countable, uncountable

Topics: government

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

A list of horses accepted as starters in a race.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, New-Zealand, countable, plural, plural-only, uncountable

Topics: hobbies, horse-racing, horseracing, horses, lifestyle, pets, racing, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

Synonym of etendue.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, optics, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: etendue

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

the act of taking something that is offered

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • her acceptance of the gift encouraged him
  • he anticipated their acceptance of his offer

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: acquisition

12

noun

Meaning 12

the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • its adoption by society
  • the proposal found wide acceptance

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: adoption, acceptation, espousal

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: blessing, approval, approving

Narrower terms: embrace, bosom

13

noun

Meaning 13

a disposition to tolerate or accept people or situations

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • all people should practice toleration and live together in peace

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: toleration, sufferance

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: permissiveness, tolerance

Narrower terms: self acceptance

14

noun

Meaning 14

the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he gave credence to the gossip
  • acceptance of Newtonian mechanics was unquestioned for 200 years

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: credence

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: attitude, mental attitude

Narrower terms: fatalism, recognition

15

noun

Meaning 15

(contract law) words signifying consent to the terms of an offer (thereby creating a contract)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: assent, acquiescence

16

noun

Meaning 16

banking: a time draft drawn on and accepted by a bank

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: banker's acceptance

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: draft, bill of exchange, order of payment

17

noun

Meaning 17

the state of being acceptable and accepted

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • torn jeans received no acceptance at the country club

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: rejection

Broader terms: situation, state of affairs

Narrower terms: vogue, recognition, acknowledgment, acknowledgement, approval, favorable reception, favourable reception, acceptation, contentedness, content, acquiescence, welcome

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- substratebor.? Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *kapyéti Proto-Italic *kapjō Old Latin kapiō Latin capiō Latin accipiō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -tō Latin acceptārelbor. Old French accepterder. Middle French acceptancebor. ▲ Old French accepterder.? Middle English accepten English accept Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -iader. Old French -ancebor. Middle English -aunce English -ance English acceptance * First attested in 1528–1530. Probably partly from Middle French acceptance (from Old French accepter (“accept”)) and partly from accept + -ance.

Across languages

Translations

87 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: قَبُول (qabūl) — act of accepting
  • Arabic: قُبُول (qubūl) — act of accepting
  • Arabic: قُبُول (gubūl) — act of accepting
  • Bengali: কবুল (kobul) — act of accepting
  • Bulgarian: приемане (priemane) — act of accepting
  • Catalan: acceptació — act of accepting
  • Czech: přijetí — act of accepting
  • Dutch: acceptatie — act of accepting
  • Esperanto: akcepto — act of accepting
  • Finnish: hyväksyntä — act of accepting
  • Finnish: hyväksyminen — act of accepting
  • French: acceptation — act of accepting
  • German: Annahme — act of accepting
  • Gothic: 𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌰𐌽𐌿𐌼𐍄𐍃 (andanumts) — act of accepting
  • Greek: αποδοχή (apodochí) — act of accepting
  • Ancient Greek: ἀποδοχή (apodokhḗ) — act of accepting
  • Hindi: स्वीकारना (svīkārnā) — act of accepting
  • Hindi: स्वीकृति (svīkŕti) — act of accepting
  • Hungarian: elfogadás — act of accepting
  • Irish: glacadh — act of accepting
  • Italian: accettazione — act of accepting
  • Northern Kurdish: pejirandin — act of accepting
  • Northern Kurdish: qebûl kirin — act of accepting
  • Latin: acceptiō — act of accepting
  • Malayalam: സ്വീകാര്യത (svīkāryata) — act of accepting
  • Old English: andfang — act of accepting
  • Plautdietsch: Aunnom — act of accepting
  • Polish: przyjęcie — act of accepting
  • Polish: akceptacja — act of accepting
  • Portuguese: aceitação — act of accepting
  • Romanian: acceptare — act of accepting
  • Romanian: acceptanță — act of accepting
  • Romanian: primire — act of accepting
  • Russian: получе́ние (polučénije) — act of accepting
  • Spanish: aceptación — act of accepting
  • Tagalog: pagtanggap — act of accepting
  • Turkish: kabul — act of accepting
  • Ottoman Turkish: اجابت (icabet) — act of accepting
  • Ukrainian: прийняття́ (pryjnjattjá) — act of accepting
  • Ukrainian: прийма́ння (pryjmánnja) — act of accepting
  • Dutch: acceptatie — state of being accepted
  • Estonian: heakskiitmine — state of being accepted
  • Finnish: hyväksyntä — state of being accepted
  • French: adhésion — state of being accepted
  • French: admission — state of being accepted
  • French: adoption — state of being accepted
  • French: assimilation — state of being accepted
  • French: reconnaissance — state of being accepted
  • German: Annahme — state of being accepted
  • Hindi: स्वीकृत (svīkŕt) — state of being accepted
  • Old English: andfang — state of being accepted
  • Plautdietsch: Aunnom — state of being accepted
  • Portuguese: aceitação — state of being accepted
  • Romanian: acceptare — state of being accepted
  • Romanian: accepție — state of being accepted
  • Russian: одобре́ние (odobrénije) — state of being accepted
  • Russian: призна́ние (priznánije) — state of being accepted
  • Bulgarian: акцептиране (akceptirane) — assent and engagement by person on whom bill of exchange is drawn
  • Dutch: acceptatie — assent and engagement by person on whom bill of exchange is drawn
  • Finnish: hyväksyntä — assent and engagement by person on whom bill of exchange is drawn
  • French: acceptation — assent and engagement by person on whom bill of exchange is drawn
  • German: Annahme — assent and engagement by person on whom bill of exchange is drawn
  • Polish: akceptacja — assent and engagement by person on whom bill of exchange is drawn
  • Polish: akcept — assent and engagement by person on whom bill of exchange is drawn
  • Portuguese: aceite — assent and engagement by person on whom bill of exchange is drawn
  • Russian: акце́пт (akcépt) — assent and engagement by person on whom bill of exchange is drawn
  • Spanish: aceptación — assent and engagement by person on whom bill of exchange is drawn
  • Turkish: akseptans — assent and engagement by person on whom bill of exchange is drawn
  • Finnish: sopimus — bill of exchange when accepted
  • German: Vertrag — bill of exchange when accepted
  • Indonesian: akseptasi — bill of exchange when accepted
  • Malay: penerimaan — bill of exchange when accepted
  • Polish: akcept — bill of exchange when accepted
  • Russian: догово́р (dogovór) — bill of exchange when accepted
  • Bulgarian: съгласие (sǎglasie) — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • Dutch: aanvaarding — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • Estonian: nõusolek — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • Finnish: hyväksyntä — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • French: acceptation — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • German: Annahme — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • Japanese: 承諾 (shōdaku) — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • Portuguese: aceitação — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • Romanian: acceptare — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • Russian: приня́тие (prinjátije) — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • Serbo-Croatian: saglasnost — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • Tagalog: pagsang-ayon — agreeing which results in a legally binding contract
  • Finnish: hyväksytyt — list of horses accepted as starters in a race
Real reading context

acceptance in complete knowledge articles