/ əkˈsept; NAmE / verb
OFFER / INVITATION
1.
to take willingly sth that is offered; to say 'yes' to an offer, invitation, etc. :
[ v ]
He asked me to marry him and I accepted.
[ vn ]
Please accept our sincere apologies.
He is charged with accepting bribes from a firm of suppliers.
It was pouring with rain so I accepted his offer of a lift.
She's decided not to accept the job.
She said she'd accept $15 for it.
OPP refuse
RECEIVE AS SUITABLE
2.
[ vn ] to receive sth as suitable or good enough :
My article has been accepted for publication.
This machine only accepts coins.
Will you accept a cheque?
AGREE
3.
[ vn ] to agree to or approve of sth :
They accepted the court's decision.
He accepted all the changes we proposed.
She won't accept advice from anyone.
OPP reject
RESPONSIBILITY
4.
[ vn ] to admit that you are responsible or to blame for sth :
He accepts full responsibility for what happened.
You have to accept the consequences of your actions.
BELIEVE
5.
accept sth (as sth) to believe that sth is true :
[ vn ]
I don't accept his version of events.
Can we accept his account as the true version?
[ v that ]
I accept that this will not be popular.
[ vn that ]
It is generally accepted that people are motivated by success.
[ vn to inf ]
The workforce is generally accepted to have the best conditions in Europe.
HELP NOTE : This pattern is only used in the passive.
DIFFICULT SITUATION
6.
accept sth (as sth) to continue in a difficult situation without complaining, because you realize that you cannot change it :
[ vn ]
You just have to accept the fact that we're never going to be rich.
Nothing will change as long as the workers continue to accept these appalling conditions.
They accept the risks as part of the job.
[ v that ]
He just refused to accept that his father was no longer there.
WELCOME
7.
[ vn ] accept sb (into sth) | accept sb (as sth) to make sb feel welcome and part of a group :
It may take years to be completely accepted by the local community.
She had never been accepted into what was essentially a man's world.
He never really accepted her as his own child.
OPP reject
ALLOW SB TO JOIN
8.
accept sb (into sth) | accept sb (as sth) to allow sb to join an organization, attend an institution, use a service, etc. :
[ vn ]
The college he applied to has accepted him.
She was disappointed not to be accepted into the club.
The landlord was willing to accept us as tenants.
[ vn to inf ]
She was accepted to study music.
OPP reject
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin acceptare , frequentative of accipere take something to oneself, from ad- to + capere take.