Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

acknowledge verb [T ]
to accept, admit or recognize something, or the truth or existence of something
[+ -ing verb] She acknowledged having been at fault.
[+ that] She acknowledged that she had been at fault.
You must acknowledge the truth of her argument.
Historians generally acknowledge her as a genius in her field.
[+ object + to infinitive] She is usually acknowledged to be one of our best artists.
They refused to acknowledge (= to recognize officially) the new government.
Please acknowledge receipt of (= say that you have received) this letter.
He didn't even acknowledge my presence (= show that he had seen me).
The government won't even acknowledge the existence of the problem.
acknowledgment , acknowledgement noun
2. something given to thank someone for what they have done
We sent her a copy of the book in acknowledgment of her part in its creation.

admission noun ACCEPT

1. [C or U] when you agree that something is true, especially unwillingly

Her silence was taken as an admission of guilt/defeat.
[+ that] I felt he would see my giving up now as an admission that I was wrong.
By/On his own admission (= as he has said) he has achieved little since he took over the company.
admit verb (-tt-) ACCEPT
1. [I or T] to agree that something is true, especially unwillingly
He admitted his guilt/mistake.
[+ (that)] She admitted (that) she had made a mistake.
[+ -ing verb] She admitted making a mistake.
At first he denied stealing the money but he later admitted (to) it.
I wasn't entirely honest with him, I admit, but I didn't actually tell him any lies.
[+ to infinitive] The new law was generally admitted to be difficult to enforce.

admittedly adverb

used when you are agreeing that something is true, especially unwillingly
Admittedly, I could have tried harder but I still don't think all this criticism is fair.
avow verb [T ] FORMAL
to state or admit something
[+ that] He avowed that he regretted what he had done.
It is a society in which homosexuality is rarely avowed.
avowed adjective [before noun ] FORMAL
stated
The Government's avowed intent/purpose/aim is to reduce tax.
An avowed traditionalist, he is against reform of any kind.

avowedly adverb

an avowedly feminist author

climbdown noun [C ] UK
when you change your opinion or admit that you were wrong
Saying she was wrong was a difficult climbdown for Sarah.

concede verb
1.

[T] to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true

[+ (that)] The Government has conceded (that) the new tax policy has been a disaster.
[+ speech] "Well okay, perhaps I was a little hard on her, " he conceded.

concede verb

3. [I or T] to admit that you have lost in a competition

He kept on arguing and wouldn't concede defeat.
She conceded even before all the votes had been counted.

concession noun SOMETHING ALLOWED

2. [U] when someone admits defeat

Cambridge University Press 2008

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

The former president's concession came even before all the votes had been counted.
a concession speech

concessionary adjective

at a lower price than usual; only available to students or young, old or unemployed people
a concessionary fare/ticket
confess verb [I or T ]
1. to admit that you have done something wrong or something that you feel guilty or bad about
[+ that] She confessed to her husband that she had sold her wedding ring.
He confessed to sleeping/having slept through most of the film.
He has confessed to the murder.
[+ (that)] I have to confess (that) when I first met Ian I didn't think he was very bright.
I found it all very confusing, I must confess.
[R] The director confessed himself (to be) puzzled by the company's losses.
confession noun [C or U ]
1. when you admit that you have done something wrong or illegal
I've got a bit of a confession to make - I've lost that book you lent me.
I can't ask for help. It feels like a confession of failure.
Confession is the first stage of coming to terms with what you've done.
He made a full confession to the police.

mea culpa exclamation HUMOROUS

used to admit that something was your fault

own verb ADMIT

2. [I] OLD-FASHIONED to admit
[+ (that)] I own (that) I was not very happy with the group's decision.

retract verb FORMAL

1. [T] to take back an offer or statement, etc. or admit that a statement was false
retract an invitation/confession/promise
When questioned on TV, the minister retracted his allegations.
retraction noun [C ]
The newspaper printed a retraction for their previous error.
self-confessed adjective [before noun ]
admitting to having a characteristic which is considered to be bad or not acceptable
New evidence from a self-confessed liar was not enough to justify a retrial.
a self-confessed gambler/alcoholic
acknowledgment , acknowledgement noun
2. something given to thank someone for what they have done
We sent her a copy of the book in acknowledgment of her part in its creation.
back down phrasal verb
to admit that you were wrong or that you have been defeated
Eventually, Roberto backed down and apologized.
Local residents have forced the local council to back down from/on its plans to build a nightclub in their
street.
climb down phrasal verb UK
to change your opinion or admit that you were wrong
The government has been forced to climb down over the issue of increased taxes.
fess up phrasal verb [I ] INFORMAL
to admit that you have done something that someone else will not like
Fess up - it was you who ate that last piece of cake, wasn't it?
own up phrasal verb
to admit that you have done something wrong
No one has owned up to stealing the money.
take sth back phrasal verb [M ] STATEMENT
2. to admit that something you said was wrong

Cambridge University Press 2008

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

All right, I take it all back. It wasn't your fault.
admit defeat
to accept that you have failed and give up
After several attempts to untie the knot, I admitted defeat and cut through it with a knife.
there's no denying
it is true
There's no denying that this has been a difficult year for the company.
come clean
to tell the truth about something that you have been keeping secret
I thought it was time to come clean (with everybody) about what I'd been doing.
make a clean breast of it
to tell the truth about something
Julia finally made a clean breast of it and admitted that she had stolen the money.
eat humble pie (US ALSO eat crow) INFORMAL
to admit that you were wrong
After boasting that his company could outperform the industry's best, he's been forced to eat humble pie.
eat humble pie (US ALSO eat crow) INFORMAL
to admit that you were wrong
After boasting that his company could outperform the industry's best, he's been forced to eat humble pie.
eat your words
to admit that something you said before was wrong
Sam said it would never sell, but when he sees these sales figures he'll have to eat his words.
hold/put your hands up
to admit that something bad is true or that you have made a mistake
I know I'm bossy and I hold my hands up to that.
I must say
I must admit
I must say, I don't think much of her dress.
I stand corrected. FORMAL
used to admit that something you have said or done was wrong
I stand corrected - the date of foundation was 1411, and not 1412 as I had written.
swallow your words
to be forced to admit that something you have said has been shown to be wrong
I had to swallow my words when the scheme turned out to be a great success.

Cambridge University Press 2008