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Definition accept in British English

accept verb

verb
/əkˈsept/

Don’t confuse agree and accept. When you want to say that someone expresses their willingness to do something, use agree with an infinitive. Don’t use accept:

✗ Some people readily accept to work at weekends.

✓ Some people readily agree to work at weekends.

✗ Small communities may not accept to be swallowed up by a general European system.

✓ Small communities may not agree to be swallowed up by a general European system.

You can use accept when you want to say that someone recognizes that something is true, fair, or right. It is followed by a noun phrase or a that-clause:

Our clients will never accept this proposal.

The great majority of landowners accept that they must obey the law.

agree

1

to take something that someone gives you

Example

It gives me great pleasure to accept this award.

Example

Saunders has been convicted for accepting bribes.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

to say yes to an invitation or offer

Example

They offered her a job, and she accepted without hesitation.

Synonyms and related words
2

to agree to do what someone asks or suggests

Example

Our clients will never accept this proposal.

Example

Most of the report's recommendations have been accepted by the government.

Synonyms and related words
3

to recognize that something is true, fair, or right

Example

Sam accepted her explanation without question.

Example

This argument is unlikely to be accepted by the court.

Example

Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to pollution.

Example

His views on genetics are not now widely accepted.

Synonyms and related words
3.1

to recognize that you are responsible for something

Example

We cannot accept liability for items stolen from your car.

Example

The media must accept their share of the blame.

Synonyms and related words
4

to recognize that a bad situation exists and cannot be avoided or changed

Example

I know it's not fair, but you'll just have to accept it.

Example

They found it hard to accept defeat.

Example

For a long time, he simply could not accept that she was dead.

Synonyms and related words
5

to allow someone to join an organization

Example

Under the new law, gay people will be accepted in the armed forces.

Example

Mexico was accepted as a member of the OECD in 1994.

Synonyms and related words
5.1

to allow someone to become part of a community or family, and make them feel welcome

Example

The local people never really accepted us.

Example

She was desperate for the children to accept her into the family.

Synonyms and related words
6

to consider that something is suitable or good enough for a particular purpose

Example

A publisher in New York has accepted her novel for publication.

Synonyms and related words
7

to take a particular form of payment

Example

The payphones here accept either coins or phone cards.

Example

We accept personal cheques with proper identification.

Synonyms and related words
Definition accept in British English