Admit vs. Accept — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 3, 2024
Admit often involves acknowledging or allowing entry, while accept relates to agreeing with or receiving something.
Difference Between Admit and Accept
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Admit primarily focuses on the aspect of confession or granting access. For instance, one might admit fault in an argument or admit someone into a group. Whereas, accept is more about approval or agreement, such as accepting an apology or accepting a job offer. This highlights a functional difference in context usage.
When it comes to feelings or facts, to admit something often requires a person to confront a truth that might be uncomfortable, such as admitting a mistake. On the other hand, to accept something can mean embracing or resigning oneself to a reality, like accepting one's limitations.
Admit can also signify allowing entry, both physically and metaphorically. For example, a club might admit new members. Conversely, accept does not imply entry but rather conveys receiving or taking something given or offered, such as accepting a gift.
In legal or formal contexts, admit can have a very specific connotation such as admitting evidence in a court of law, which implies that the evidence is allowed to be considered. Accept, in such contexts, generally pertains to agreeing with or acknowledging the validity of something, like accepting the terms of a contract.
The emotional undertones of admit often relate to reluctance or necessity, such as admitting defeat. Whereas, accept tends to carry a sense of resignation or voluntary agreement, enhancing its emotional spectrum in scenarios like accepting an unfortunate truth.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Acknowledgement, entry
Agreement, reception
Usage
Confessional, permission
Approval, receiving
Context
Legal, personal, membership
Contracts, emotional, offers
Emotional Tone
Often reluctant or necessary
Resignation, voluntary
Examples
Admitting someone to a club
Accepting a gift
Compare with Definitions
Admit
To confess to be true.
She admitted her role in the scheme.
Accept
To receive something offered.
He accepted the parcel from the courier.
Admit
To allow entry or access.
The theater admits only 100 people.
Accept
To agree or consent to.
She accepted the job offer immediately.
Admit
To grant permission or right.
The pass admits two people.
Accept
To regard as proper, normal, or inevitable.
He finally accepted the inevitable.
Admit
To acknowledge the validity of.
The judge admitted the new evidence.
Accept
To endure without protest or reaction.
She accepted the criticism gracefully.
Admit
To accept formally into an organization.
He was admitted into the society.
Accept
To believe or come to recognize.
He accepted the fact that he was wrong.
Admit
Confess to be true or to be the case
‘I am feeling pretty tired,’ Jane admitted
The Home Office finally admitted that several prisoners had been injured
Accept
To answer affirmatively
Accept an invitation.
Admit
Allow (someone) to enter a place
Old-age pensioners are admitted free to the museum
Accept
To agree to take (a duty or responsibility).
Admit
Accept as valid
The courts can refuse to admit police evidence which has been illegally obtained
Accept
To receive (something offered), especially with gladness or approval
Accepted a glass of water.
Accepted their contract.
Admit
Allow the possibility of
The need to inform him was too urgent to admit of further delay
Accept
To admit to a group, organization, or place
Accepted me as a new member of the club.
Admit
To grant to be real, valid, or true; acknowledge or concede
Even proponents of the technology admit that it doesn't always work as well as it should.
Accept
To regard as proper, usual, or right
Such customs are widely accepted.
Admit
To disclose or confess (guilt or an error, for example).
Accept
To regard as true; believe in
Scientists have accepted the new theory.
Admit
To afford opportunity for; permit
We must admit no delay in the proceedings.
Accept
To understand as having a specific meaning.
Admit
To allow to enter
A crack in the wall that admitted some light.
Accept
To endure resignedly or patiently
Accept one's fate.
Admit
To grant the right to enter
This ticket admits two to the performance of the play.
Accept
To be able to hold (something applied or inserted)
This wood will not accept oil paints.
Admit
To accept into an organization or group
The college admits fine arts students.
Accept
To receive officially
Accept the committee's report.
Admit
To accept (someone) as an inpatient in a hospital.
Accept
To consent to pay, as by a signed agreement.
Admit
To accept into evidence as relevant and otherwise admissible
The judge admitted the testimony of the expert.
Accept
To take payment in the form of
A store that does not accept checks.
Admit
To afford possibility
A problem that admits of no solution.
Accept
(Medicine) To receive (a transplanted organ or tissue) without immunological rejection.
Admit
To allow entrance; afford access
A door admitting to the hall.
Accept
To receive something, especially with favor. Often used with of.
Admit
To make acknowledgment; confess
Admitted to committing the crime.
Admitted to a weakness for sweets.
Accept
(transitive) To receive, especially with a consent, with favour, or with approval.
Admit
One who is admitted.
Accept
(transitive) To admit to a place or a group.
The Boy Scouts were going to accept him as a member.
Admit
(transitive) To allow to enter; to grant entrance (to), whether into a place, into the mind, or into consideration
A ticket admits one into a playhouse.
They were admitted into his house.
To admit a serious thought into the mind
To admit evidence in the trial of a cause
Accept
(transitive) To regard as proper, usual, true, or to believe in.
I accept the notion that Christ lived.
Admit
(transitive) To allow (someone) to enter a profession or to enjoy a privilege; to recognize as qualified for a franchise.
To admit an attorney to practice law
The prisoner was admitted to bail
Accept
(transitive) To receive as adequate or satisfactory.
Admit
(transitive) To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation which it is impossible to deny
The argument or fact is admitted
He admitted his guilt
She admitted taking drugs / she admitted to taking drugs
Accept
(transitive) To receive or admit to; to agree to; to assent to; to submit to.
I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse.
Admit
(transitive) To be capable of; to permit. In this sense, "of" may be used after the verb, or may be omitted.
The words do not admit such a construction.
Accept
(transitive) To endure patiently.
I accept my punishment.
Admit
(intransitive) To give warrant or allowance, to grant opportunity or permission (+ of).
Circumstances do not admit of this
The text does not admit of this interpretation
Accept
(transitive) To acknowledge patiently without opposition or resistance.
We need to accept the fact that restaurants are closed due to COVID-19 and that no amount of wishing or screaming will make them reopen any sooner.
Admit
(transitive) To allow to enter a hospital or similar facility for treatment.
Accept
To agree to pay.
Admit
To suffer to enter; to grant entrance, whether into a place, or into the mind, or consideration; to receive; to take; as, they were into his house; to admit a serious thought into the mind; to admit evidence in the trial of a cause.
Accept
(transitive) To receive officially.
To accept the report of a committee
Admit
To give a right of entrance; as, a ticket admits one into a playhouse.
Accept
(intransitive) To receive something willingly.
Admit
To allow (one) to enter on an office or to enjoy a privilege; to recognize as qualified for a franchise; as, to admit an attorney to practice law; the prisoner was admitted to bail.
Accept
(obsolete) Accepted.
Admit
To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation which it is impossible to deny; to own or confess; as, the argument or fact is admitted; he admitted his guilt.
Accept
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.
To accept of ransom for my son.
She accepted of a treat.
Admit
To be capable of; to permit; as, the words do not admit such a construction. In this sense, of may be used after the verb, or may be omitted.
Both Houses declared that they could admit of no treaty with the king.
Accept
To receive with favor; to approve.
The Lord accept thy burnt sacrifice.
Peradventure he will accept of me.
Admit
Declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of;
He admitted his errors
She acknowledged that she might have forgotten
Accept
To receive or admit and agree to; to assent to; as, I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse.
Admit
Allow to enter; grant entry to;
We cannot admit non-members into our club
Accept
To take by the mind; to understand; as, How are these words to be accepted?
Admit
Allow participation in or the right to be part of; permit to exercise the rights, functions, and responsibilities of;
Admit someone to the profession
She was admitted to the New Jersey Bar
Accept
To receive as obligatory and promise to pay; as, to accept a bill of exchange.
Admit
Admit into a group or community;
Accept students for graduate study
We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member
Accept
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.]
Admit
Afford possibility;
This problem admits of no solution
This short story allows of several different interpretations
Accept
Accepted.
Admit
Give access or entrance to;
The French doors admit onto the yard
Accept
Consider or hold as true;
I cannot accept the dogma of this church
Accept an argument
Admit
Have room for; hold without crowding;
This hotel can accommodate 250 guests
The theater admits 300 people
The auditorium can't hold more than 500 people
Accept
Receive willingly something given or offered;
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
Admit
Serve as a means of entrance;
This ticket will admit one adult to the show
Accept
Give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to;
I cannot accept your invitation
I go for this resolution
Accept
React favorably to; consider right and proper;
People did not accept atonal music at that time
We accept the idea of universal health care
Accept
Admit into a group or community;
Accept students for graduate study
We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member
Accept
Take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person;
I'll accept the charges
She agreed to bear the responsibility
Accept
Tolerate or accommodate oneself to;
I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions
I swallowed the insult
She has learned to live with her husband's little idiosyncracies
Accept
Be designed to hold or take;
This surface will not take the dye
Accept
Of a deliberative body: receive (a report) officially, as from a committee
Accept
Make use of or accept for some purpose;
Take a risk
Take an opportunity
Accept
Be sexually responsive to, used of a female domesticated mammal;
The cow accepted the bull
Common Curiosities
What are the implications of accepting an offer?
Accepting an offer generally implies agreeing to the terms and conditions associated with it.
Is admitting guilt the same as accepting guilt?
Admitting guilt is acknowledging wrongdoing, whereas accepting guilt might involve embracing or resigning to the consequences.
Why is admitting often seen as difficult?
Admitting can be difficult due to its association with confession and the vulnerability it entails.
What does it mean to admit something?
To admit something means to confess it or allow it as valid.
Can accept be used interchangeably with admit in sentences?
They are not typically interchangeable due to different contexts of use; admit often involves an element of confession, whereas accept involves agreement.
What does it mean to admit someone into a place?
To admit someone into a place means to allow them entry or access.
Can organizations admit or accept people?
Organizations admit people by granting them membership, while accepting people is less common and might involve recognizing their qualifications or credentials.
What is the role of personal feelings in admitting versus accepting?
Personal feelings in admitting involve confronting or acknowledging difficult truths, whereas in accepting, it often involves coming to terms with or embracing realities.
How do admit and accept differ in legal contexts?
In legal contexts, admit often refers to the acceptance of evidence, while accept might refer to agreement on terms.
What does it mean to accept a challenge?
To accept a challenge means to agree to take it on, acknowledging its difficulty and engaging with it willingly.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
