accept Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb consider or hold as true
    • I cannot accept the dogma of this church
    • accept an argument
  2. verb receive willingly something given or offered
    have; take.
    • The only girl who would have him was the miller's daughter
    • I won't have this dog in my house!
    • Please accept my present
  3. verb give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to
    consent; go for.
    • I cannot accept your invitation
    • I go for this resolution
  4. verb react favorably to; consider right and proper
    • People did not accept atonal music at that time
    • We accept the idea of universal health care
  5. verb admit into a group or community
    take on; admit; take.
    • accept students for graduate study
    • We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member
  6. verb take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person
    assume; take over; bear.
    • I'll accept the charges
    • She agreed to bear the responsibility
  7. verb tolerate or accommodate oneself to
    swallow; live with.
    • I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions
    • I swallowed the insult
    • She has learned to live with her husband's little idiosyncrasies
  8. verb be designed to hold or take
    take.
    • This surface will not take the dye
  9. verb receive (a report) officially, as from a committee
  10. verb make use of or accept for some purpose
    take.
    • take a risk
    • take an opportunity
  11. verb be sexually responsive to, used of a female domesticated mammal
    • The cow accepted the bull

WordNet


Ac*cept" transitive verb
Etymology
F. accepter, L. acceptare, freq. of accipere; ad + capere to take; akin to E. heave.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Accepted; present participle & verbal noun Accepting
Definitions
  1. To receive with a consenting mind (something offered); as, to accept a gift; -- often followed by of.
    If you accept them, then their worth is great. Shak.
    To accept of ransom for my son. Milton.
    She accepted of a treat. Addison.
  2. To receive with favor; to approve.
    The Lord accept thy burnt sacrifice.
    Ps. xx. 3.
    Peradventure he will accept of me.
    Gen. xxxii. 20.
  3. To receive or admit and agree to; to assent to; as, I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse.
  4. To take by the mind; to understand; as, How are these words to be accepted?
  5. (Com.) To receive as obligatory and promise to pay; as, to accept a bill of exchange. Bouvier.
  6. In a deliberate body, to receive in acquittance of a duty imposed; as, to accept the report of a committee. [This makes it the property of the body, and the question is then on its adoption.] Gal. ii. 6. Syn. -- To receive; take; admit. See Receive.
Ac*cept" adjective
Definitions
  1. Accepted. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913