To find the right accept synonym, first decide what is being accepted. A gift or job offer is something you take or receive; terms and plans are things you agree to or approve; a claim is something you believe; bad news is something you come to terms with; and a new member of a group is someone you welcome.
Small grammar details matter with this verb. Agree and consent need the word to, approve takes a direct object when it means official sign-off (approve the budget), and resign yourself is followed by to and then a noun, as in resign yourself to defeat. Each section notes the pattern so your swap stays correct.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
take, receive, agree to, approve, embracePart of speech
VerbMost formal
assent to, ratify, concedeMost casual
buy, go along with, okayHard news
come to terms with, make peace withAntonyms
refuse, reject, decline, turn downWatch out
Accept means receive; except means apart from. They sound alike but never swap.Word forms covered
accepts, accepted, accepting, acceptance
Each accept synonym, matched to its object
| You accept | Swap with | Sample line |
|---|---|---|
| A gift or offer | take, receive, take up | She took up the offer of a lift. |
| Terms or a proposal | agree to, approve, sign off on | The board approved the budget. |
| A statement or excuse | believe, buy, credit | Nobody bought his story about the dog. |
| Something painful | come to terms with, put up with | He came to terms with the diagnosis. |
| A newcomer | welcome, embrace, take in | The village welcomed the new teacher. |
| Blame or a duty | take on, shoulder, own | The manager shouldered the blame. |
Buy and swallow are casual and slightly mocking, so save them for chat with friends.
Formality ladder for saying yes
For agreeing to an offer, the chips climb in formality. Say yes to is conversation. Take up fits invitations and offers: take up a place on the course. Agree to is neutral and works in email. Consent to adds permission and turns up on hospital and legal paperwork. Assent to is the stiffest rung, reserved for official approval of laws and motions.
Pick the rung that fits your reader. Telling a friend you assent to pizza will sound like a joke, which is fine if that is the aim.
Sentences with accept swapped
- I accept your invitation becomes I am happy to say yes to your invitation.
- The club accepted the new rules becomes the club adopted the new rules.
- She accepted the job in Denver becomes she took the job in Denver.
- I accept that I was wrong becomes I acknowledge that I was wrong.
- He finally accepted the loss becomes he finally made peace with the loss.
- The school accepts students of all ages becomes the school admits students of all ages.
An email reply: "I accept the offer and accept the start date." Better: "I am delighted to accept the offer, and the proposed start date works well for me." One accept stays, and the second idea finds its own words.
Accepted, accepting, accepts and acceptance
Accepted as an adjective means widely agreed: an accepted fact becomes an established, recognized or standard fact. Accepting describes a person who is open-minded: tolerant, understanding, open, nonjudgmental. Accepts follows the main groups: the shop takes cards, the council approves the plan.
The noun acceptance splits too. For agreement, use approval or consent. For emotional peace, use resignation when the tone is sad, or switch to the verb phrase come to terms with. For a college acceptance letter, offer of admission is the usual phrase.
Do not confuse these
Except sounds identical but means excluding: everyone except Sam. Receive and accept differ subtly: you can receive a letter you never agreed to accept. Tolerate is not warm; tolerating a coworker is far from welcoming one. Embrace is the warmest choice, suggesting real enthusiasm, so check that it fits.
For close relatives of this verb, visit receive synonyms, embrace synonyms and acknowledge synonyms.
Refuse, reject and decline
Decline is the polite opposite in emails and invitations. Turn down is neutral and conversational. Refuse is firm, and reject sounds final, as with a rejected application. Dispute and deny oppose a claim rather than an offer.
- Thank you for the offer, but I must decline.
- The tenants disputed the new charges.
See decline synonyms for gentle ways to say no; related verbs fill our list of action verbs.
Frequently asked questions
In an email, how do I accept an offer politely?
Write I am pleased to accept, or I would be glad to take up your offer. Both sound warm without being stiff.
Which word means accept a situation you cannot change?
Come to terms with is the most natural. Resign yourself to sounds sadder, and make peace with sounds calmer.
Is approve the same as accept?
Close in the agreement sense, but approve suggests official authority. A manager approves a request; a friend accepts an apology.
Which antonym of accept is most polite?
Decline is the most polite. Refuse and reject are firmer and can sound cold in a reply.
Can I use embrace instead of accept?
Yes, when you mean accepting something with enthusiasm, like change or a new idea. For a reluctant acceptance, embrace would overstate your feelings.
How do accept and except differ?
Accept is a verb meaning take or agree. Except usually means apart from, as in all days except Monday.