acquiesce to

USAGE SUMMARY

'acquiesce to' is correct and can be used in written English.
'Acquiesce to' means to accept something reluctantly or with some reservation. Example: She reluctantly acquiesced to her parents' demands that she stay home from school.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

We will not acquiesce to nature.

The New Yorker

"I had to acquiesce to certain forces.

The New York Times - Arts

Gardner wants death but won't acquiesce to his disease.

The New York Times - Magazine

He said protesters would not acquiesce to the police demands.

The Guardian

"Yeah, it's a process — you must acquiesce to the process, no less.

The New York Times

That recognition does not require that we acquiesce to the demands of others when we disagree.

The New York Times

Women, in their quest to enhance their partners's pleasure, acquiesce to all sorts of requests.

The New York Times

And while this is speculation, Best Buy will probably acquiesce to Mr. Shulze's stated wish.

The New York Times

But they also acquiesce to restrictions that their daughter finds intolerable.

The New York Times

But getting there will require this distinguished lobster to acquiesce to a rather pedestrian adventure.

The New York Times

Of the four, three gave specific examples that they could possibly acquiesce to.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "acquiesce to" when you want to convey reluctant agreement or passive acceptance. It suggests that the subject is not fully enthusiastic about the outcome but complies nonetheless.

Common error

Avoid using "acquiesce to" when you mean enthusiastic agreement. The phrase implies a degree of reluctance or resignation, so ensure it aligns with the intended meaning of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquiesce to" functions as a verb phrase indicating agreement or compliance, often with a sense of reluctance or passivity. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and offers examples in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acquiesce to" is a verb phrase that conveys a reluctant or passive agreement. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and widely used, predominantly in News & Media contexts. While it is a relatively common phrase, writers should be mindful of its specific nuance, ensuring it accurately reflects the intended meaning of reluctant compliance. Alternatives like "consent to" or "agree to" may be more appropriate when the agreement is less hesitant. Understanding these subtleties helps ensure precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consent to

Implies giving permission or agreement to something, similar to acquiescing but potentially with less reluctance.

agree to

A general term for expressing accord or acceptance; may lack the connotation of passive acceptance inherent in "acquiesce to".

submit to

Suggests yielding or surrendering to something, often a force or authority. Stronger emphasis on power dynamics than "acquiesce to".

yield to

Indicates giving way to pressure or influence. Implies a degree of resistance overcome, akin to "acquiesce to".

defer to

Highlights respect or recognition of another's authority or expertise, leading to compliance.

comply with

Focuses on adhering to rules or regulations, whereas "acquiesce to" can refer to less formal situations.

give in to

Emphasizes the act of surrendering after resistance. More informal than "acquiesce to".

bow to

Suggests submission to a powerful force or demand, often with a sense of defeat or resignation.

knuckle under

An informal term implying grudging submission to authority or pressure.

cave in to

Highlights a sudden or dramatic surrender, often after a period of strong resistance.

FAQs

How to use "acquiesce to" in a sentence?

Use "acquiesce to" when you want to express a reluctant agreement. For example, "After much debate, she finally "acquiesced to" their demands".

What can I say instead of "acquiesce to"?

You can use alternatives like "consent to", "agree to", or "comply with" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "acquiesce with" instead of "acquiesce to"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "acquiesce" is "to". "Acquiesce with" is grammatically incorrect. The verb "acquiesce" always takes "to" as its preposition.

What's the difference between "acquiesce to" and "concede to"?

"Acquiesce to" implies a passive acceptance or reluctant agreement, while "concede to" suggests admitting defeat or acknowledging the validity of an opposing viewpoint. The former often involves a sense of resignation, the latter, a more active acknowledgment.