acknowledge

/ik-ˈnä-lij/

ac- (in acknow "to confess knowledge of," going back to Middle English aknowen, going back to Old English oncnāwan, acnāwan "to know, recognize, admit, confess," from a-, on-, prefixal use of on + cnāwan "to ") + knowledge

verb

  1. to recognize the rights, authority, or status of

  2. to disclose knowledge of or agreement with

  3. to express gratitude or obligation for

They acknowledged him as their leader.

acknowledge admit own avow confess mean to disclose against one's will or inclination. acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed. admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.