C1 verb رسمی #18,000 رایج‌ترین 4 دقیقه مطالعه

acquiesce

/ˌæk.wiˈes/

Practice it

Acquiesce means to give in or agree reluctantly, without putting up a fight.

واژه در 30 ثانیه

Reluctantly accept something without protesting.
Implies passive agreement due to lack of choice or avoiding conflict.
Formal word, often used in serious or official contexts.
Connotation of resignation, not genuine enthusiasm.

Overview

1Overview: Acquiesce signifies a passive acceptance, a reluctant agreement to something without vocal opposition. It's not about enthusiastic endorsement but rather a quiet yielding, often born from a feeling of powerlessness, a desire to avoid conflict, or a pragmatic recognition that resistance is futile. The word carries a connotation of resignation; the person acquiescing might feel a twinge of dissatisfaction or regret but chooses to go along with the situation. It suggests a lack of active participation in the decision-making process, instead opting for a compliant stance. The nuance lies in the internal state versus the external action: internally, there might be disagreement or unhappiness, but externally, there is compliance. This often happens when faced with authority, strong opposition, or overwhelming circumstances.

1Usage Patterns: Acquiesce is predominantly used in more formal settings, both spoken and written. It's common in legal documents, business negotiations, political discourse, and academic writing where precise language regarding agreement and dissent is crucial. While it can appear in spoken English, it's less frequent in casual conversation, where simpler terms like 'agree,' 'go along with,' or 'give in' might be preferred. In informal contexts, using 'acquiesce' can sound overly formal or even slightly sarcastic. Regional variations are minimal; its usage is broadly consistent across English-speaking regions, maintaining its formal register.

1Common Contexts: In the workplace, an employee might acquiesce to a new policy they disagree with to avoid confrontation. In legal settings, a party might acquiesce to a settlement offer rather than endure a lengthy trial. In family dynamics, a child might acquiesce to parental rules they find unfair. In literature, characters often acquiesce to societal pressures or fate. In academic discussions, one might acquiesce to a prevailing theory temporarily while gathering more evidence. It's frequently seen in situations involving power imbalances, where the less powerful party feels compelled to agree.

Comparison with Similar Words:

Agree: This is a general term for expressing accord. 'Agree' can be active and enthusiastic, whereas 'acquiesce' is passive and reluctant.

Consent: Similar to agree, but often implies giving permission, especially formally. Consent can be active and willing, unlike acquiesce.

Yield: This implies giving way under pressure or force, often losing a struggle. While similar to acquiesce in its reluctance, 'yield' can suggest a more direct struggle or defeat, whereas 'acquiesce' is more about passive non-resistance.

Submit: This means to accept or yield to a superior force or authority. 'Submit' often implies a stronger sense of being overcome or defeated, whereas 'acquiesce' focuses more on the lack of protest.

Comply: This means to act in accordance with a wish or command. 'Comply' can be neutral or even willing, whereas 'acquiesce' always carries the undertone of reluctance.

1Register & Tone: Acquiesce belongs to a formal register. Its use in informal settings can sound stilted, pretentious, or ironically detached. It's best employed when discussing serious matters, official decisions, or situations where a nuanced description of reluctant agreement is needed. Avoid it in casual chats or when expressing genuine, enthusiastic agreement.

Common Collocations:

Acquiesce to: This is the most common prepositional phrase, indicating what one yields to. Example: 'She finally acquiesced to his demands.'

Acquiesce in: Less common, but used similarly to 'acquiesce to,' often referring to a situation or state. Example: 'He seemed to acquiesce in the decision.'

Reluctantly acquiesce: Emphasizes the unwillingness. Example: 'The committee reluctantly acquiesced to the new proposal.'

Quietly acquiesce: Highlights the lack of protest. Example: 'She chose to quietly acquiesce rather than cause a scene.'

Seem to acquiesce: Suggests an outward appearance of agreement that might not reflect true feelings. Example: 'The team seemed to acquiesce to the manager's plan.'

Forced to acquiesce: Underscores the lack of choice. Example: 'Under threat, they were forced to acquiesce.'

مثال‌ها

The board members felt compelled to acquiesce to the CEO's controversial plan, despite their reservations.

business

The board members felt compelled to agree reluctantly to the CEO's controversial plan, despite their reservations.

After hours of debate, she finally acquiesced to his request for a loan.

everyday

After hours of debate, she finally agreed without protest to his request for a loan.

The rebels were forced to acquiesce to the terms of surrender.

formal

The rebels were forced to accept the terms of surrender without protest.

He seemed to acquiesce to the changes, but his quiet resentment simmered beneath the surface.

literary

He seemed to accept the changes passively, but his quiet resentment simmered beneath the surface.

Rather than cause a scene, the child acquiesced to putting away their toys.

informal

Rather than cause a scene, the child passively agreed to putting away their toys.

The university had to acquiesce to the student union's demands regarding tuition fees.

academic

The university had to accept the student union's demands regarding tuition fees without protest.

They didn't like the idea, but they acquiesced for the sake of harmony.

everyday

They didn't like the idea, but they accepted it passively for the sake of harmony.

The scientist reluctantly acquiesced to the peer review panel's suggested modifications.

formal

The scientist reluctantly accepted the peer review panel's suggested modifications without protest.

مترادف‌ها

comply concede yield submit accede assent

متضادها

resist protest defy

ترکیب‌های رایج

acquiesce to To agree to or accept something reluctantly

reluctantly acquiesce To agree or accept with visible unwillingness

quietly acquiesce To accept without making a fuss or protest

seem to acquiesce To give the appearance of agreeing passively

forced to acquiesce To have no choice but to accept reluctantly

acquiesce in To accept a situation or state passively (less common than 'to')

acquiesce readily To agree easily and without protest (often used ironically)

acquiesce without protest To accept something and make no objection

عبارات رایج

acquiesce to demands

To reluctantly agree to what someone is asking for.

acquiesce to fate

To passively accept whatever happens, without resistance.

acquiesce to the inevitable

To accept something that cannot be avoided or changed.

acquiesce without a word

To accept something silently, without any objection.

اغلب اشتباه گرفته می‌شود با

acquiesce vs agree

'Agree' implies a more positive and willing accord, while 'acquiesce' specifically denotes reluctant acceptance without protest, often due to pressure or inevitability. Example: 'I agree with your plan' vs. 'He had to acquiesce to the plan.'

acquiesce vs consent

'Consent' often implies giving formal permission or agreement, which can be active and willing. 'Acquiesce' is passive and reluctant. Example: 'She consented to the surgery' vs. 'She had to acquiesce to the doctor's orders.'

acquiesce vs submit

'Submit' suggests yielding to a superior force or authority, often after a struggle or defeat. 'Acquiesce' focuses more on the lack of outward resistance to a demand or situation. Example: 'The army submitted to the enemy' vs. 'The employee acquiesced to the new workload.'

الگوهای دستوری

acquiesce + to + noun phrase (e.g., acquiesce to the demands) subject + acquiesce + adverb (e.g., reluctantly acquiesce) subject + seem to + acquiesce (e.g., they seemed to acquiesce) subject + be forced to + acquiesce (e.g., was forced to acquiesce) It + is + difficult to + acquiesce (e.g., It is difficult to acquiesce) acquiesce + in + noun phrase (less common) (e.g., acquiesce in the decision)

How to Use It

نکات کاربردی

Acquiesce is a formal verb and should be used primarily in writing or in serious spoken contexts. Its overuse in casual conversation can sound pretentious. While it implies agreement, the core meaning is acceptance without opposition, often stemming from a lack of power or a desire to avoid conflict. Be mindful that it carries a connotation of resignation, not genuine enthusiasm.

اشتباهات رایج

Learners sometimes use 'acquiesce' when they mean 'agree' enthusiastically. Remember, the key is reluctance. Using 'acquiesce' with positive adverbs like 'happily' or 'eagerly' creates a contradiction. Ensure you use the preposition 'to' after 'acquiesce' (e.g., 'acquiesce to the demands').

Tips

💡

Emphasize Reluctance

Remember that 'acquiesce' highlights a lack of protest. Use it when you want to convey that someone agreed, but not enthusiastically.

⚠️

Avoid Informal Settings

Using 'acquiesce' in casual conversation can make you sound overly formal or even pretentious. Stick to simpler synonyms like 'agree' or 'go along with'.

🌍

Passive Agreement Nuance

In cultures that value directness, 'acquiescing' might be seen negatively as lacking conviction. In others, it might be a polite way to avoid open conflict.

🎓

Subtle Power Dynamics

Use 'acquiesce' to subtly describe situations involving power imbalances, where agreement is given but not necessarily earned or wholehearted.

ریشه کلمه

The word originates from the Latin 'acquiescere,' meaning 'to find rest in' or 'to become calm.' It evolved to mean finding rest from striving by yielding or resting content with something, eventually leading to its modern sense of reluctant acceptance.

بافت فرهنگی

In many Western cultures, directness and assertiveness are valued, making passive acquiescence potentially viewed as weakness. However, in contexts where maintaining social harmony is paramount, acquiescence can be a strategy to avoid confrontation. The word itself appears in literature and historical accounts reflecting power dynamics and societal expectations.

راهنمای حفظ

Imagine someone being forced to 'Acquire' a 'Quest' they don't want. They sigh and 'Acquiesce' – they accept it reluctantly because they have no other choice.

سوالات متداول

8 سوال

It's generally neutral to negative, as it implies reluctance and a lack of active agreement. It suggests giving in rather than making a positive choice.

You typically acquiesce *to* a demand, proposal, situation, or decision, rather than directly to a person. The focus is on the thing being agreed to.

'Agree' implies a more positive and potentially willing accord, while 'acquiesce' specifically denotes reluctant acceptance without protest.

Use 'acquiesce' in more formal writing or speech when you want to sound more sophisticated and emphasize the lack of protest, rather than the struggle involved in 'giving in'.

No, quite the opposite. It means you accept the decision or situation without fighting it, but you likely don't agree with it or are unhappy about it.

Yes, the noun form is 'acquiescence,' which refers to the act or state of acquiescing.

It can be used, but it sounds quite formal. In casual chat, words like 'go along with it' or 'put up with it' are more common.

It means they stop resisting something that they realize cannot be avoided or changed, accepting it passively even if they don't like it.

خودت رو بسنج

fill blank

Despite his reservations, he decided to ______ to the new policy to avoid further debate.

درسته! نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: a

'Acquiesce' means to accept reluctantly without protest, which fits the context of avoiding debate despite reservations.

multiple choice

The exhausted team had to acquiesce to the coach's decision to practice in the rain.

درسته! نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: a

The context 'exhausted' suggests the team did not want to practice but accepted it without arguing, fitting the definition of reluctant acceptance.

sentence building

to / demands / acquiesced / he / their / finally

درسته! نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: He finally acquiesced to their demands.

The structure 'subject + adverb + verb + prepositional phrase' is correct. 'Acquiesced to' is the standard phrasing.

error correction

She happily acquiesced the manager's suggestion, eager to start the project.

درسته! نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: She happily agreed to the manager's suggestion, eager to start the project.

The word 'happily' contradicts the meaning of 'acquiesce,' which implies reluctance. 'Agreed to' is a better fit for happy acceptance.

امتیاز: /4

Summary