/ ədˈmɪt; NAmE / verb
( -tt- )
ACCEPT TRUTH
1.
admit (to sth / to doing sth) | admit (to sb) (that ... ) to agree, often unwillingly, that sth is true
SYN confess :
[ v ]
She admits to being strict with her children.
Don't be afraid to admit to your mistakes.
It was a stupid thing to do, I admit.
[ vn ]
He admitted all his mistakes.
She stubbornly refuses to admit the truth.
Why don't you just admit defeat (= recognize that you cannot do sth) and let someone else try?
Admit it! You were terrified!
[ v ( that )]
They freely admit (that) they still have a lot to learn.
I couldn't admit to my parents that I was finding the course difficult.
You must admit that it all sounds very strange.
[ vn that ]
It was generally admitted that the government had acted too quickly.
[ v speech ]
'I'm very nervous,' she admitted reluctantly.
[ vn to inf ]
The appointment is now generally admitted to have been a mistake.
HELP NOTE : This pattern is only used in the passive.
ACCEPT BLAME
2.
admit (to sth / to doing sth) to say that you have done sth wrong or illegal
SYN confess to :
[ v ]
She admitted to having stolen the car.
He refused to admit to the other charges.
[ vn ]
She admitted theft.
He refused to admit his guilt.
[ v -ing ]
She admitted having driven the car without insurance.
ALLOW TO ENTER / JOIN
3.
[ vn ] admit sb/sth (to / into sth) to allow sb/sth to enter a place :
Each ticket admits one adult.
The narrow windows admit little light into the room.
You will not be admitted to the theatre after the performance has started.
4.
[ vn ] admit sb (to / into sth) to allow sb to become a member of a club, a school, or an organization :
The society admits all US citizens over 21.
Women were only admitted into the club last year.
TO HOSPITAL
5.
[ vn ] [ often passive ] admit sb to / into a hospital, an institution, etc. to take sb to a hospital, or other institution where they can receive special care :
Two crash victims were admitted to the local hospital.
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- admit of sth
••
SYNONYMS
admit
acknowledge ♦ concede ♦ confess ♦ allow ♦ grant
These words all mean to agree, often unwillingly, that sth is true.
admit
to agree, often unwillingly, that sth is true:
It was a stupid thing to do, I admit.
acknowledge
( rather formal ) to accept that sth exists, is true or has happened:
She refuses to acknowledge the need for reform.
concede
( rather formal ) to admit, often unwillingly, that sth is true or logical:
He was forced to concede (that) there might be difficulties.
admit or concede?
When sb admits sth, they are usually agreeing that sth which is generally considered bad or wrong is true or has happened, especially when it relates to their own actions. When sb concedes sth, they are usually accepting, unwillingly, that a particular fact or statement is true or logical.
confess
( rather formal ) to admit sth that you feel ashamed or embarrassed about:
She was reluctant to confess her ignorance.
allow
( formal ) to agree that sth is true or correct:
He refuses to allow that such a situation could arise.
grant
to admit that a statement or claim is true, usually while denying that a greater claim is also true:
She's an intelligent woman, I grant you, but she's no genius.
•
Granted, he is a beginner, but he should know the basic rules.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to admit / acknowledge / concede / confess / allow / grant that...
to admit / confess to sth
to admit / concede / confess sth to sb
you must admit / acknowledge / concede / confess / allow / grant sth
to hate to admit / confess sth
to admit / acknowledge the truth
to admit / confess your mistakes / ignorance
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin admittere , from ad- to + mittere send.