Acknowledge vs. Admit — What's the Difference?

Accept or admit the existence or truth of

Confess to be true or to be the case

Recognize the importance or quality of

Allow (someone) to enter a place

Show that one has noticed or recognized (someone) by making a gesture or greeting

Accept as valid

To admit the existence or truth of

Allow the possibility of

To express recognition of; make notice of

To grant to be real, valid, or true; acknowledge or concede

To express gratitude or appreciation for or to

To disclose or confess (guilt or an error, for example).

To report the receipt of (something) to the sender or giver

To afford opportunity for; permit

(Law) To accept or certify as legally binding

To allow to enter

(transitive) To admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in

To grant the right to enter

(transitive) To own or recognize in a particular quality, character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to.

To accept into an organization or group

(transitive) To be grateful of (e.g. a benefit or a favour)

To accept (someone) as an inpatient in a hospital.

(transitive) To report (the receipt of a message to its sender).

To accept into evidence as relevant and otherwise admissible

(transitive) To own as genuine or valid; to assent to (a legal instrument) to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form.

To afford possibility

To own or admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in; as, to acknowledge the being of a God.

To allow entrance; afford access

To own or recognize in a particular character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to.

To make acknowledgment; confess

To own with gratitude or as a benefit or an obligation; as, to acknowledge a favor, the receipt of a letter.

One who is admitted.

To own as genuine; to assent to, as a legal instrument, to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form; as, to acknowledge a deed.

(transitive) To allow to enter; to grant entrance (to), whether into a place, into the mind, or into consideration

Declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of;

(transitive) To allow (someone) to enter a profession or to enjoy a privilege; to recognize as qualified for a franchise.

Report the receipt of;

(transitive) To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation which it is impossible to deny

Express recognition of the presence or existence of, or acquaintance with;

(transitive) To be capable of; to permit. In this sense, "of" may be used after the verb, or may be omitted.

Express obligation, thanks, or gratitude for;

(intransitive) To give warrant or allowance, to grant opportunity or permission (+ of).

Accept as legally binding and valid;

(transitive) To allow to enter a hospital or similar facility for treatment.

Accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority;

To suffer to enter; to grant entrance, whether into a place, or into the mind, or consideration; to receive; to take; as, they were into his house; to admit a serious thought into the mind; to admit evidence in the trial of a cause.

To give a right of entrance; as, a ticket admits one into a playhouse.

To allow (one) to enter on an office or to enjoy a privilege; to recognize as qualified for a franchise; as, to admit an attorney to practice law; the prisoner was admitted to bail.

To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation which it is impossible to deny; to own or confess; as, the argument or fact is admitted; he admitted his guilt.

To be capable of; to permit; as, the words do not admit such a construction. In this sense, of may be used after the verb, or may be omitted.

Declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of;

Allow to enter; grant entry to;

Allow participation in or the right to be part of; permit to exercise the rights, functions, and responsibilities of;

Admit into a group or community;

Afford possibility;

Give access or entrance to;

Have room for; hold without crowding;

Serve as a means of entrance;