Acquiesce Meaning
/ˌækwiˈɛs/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo rest satisfied, or apparently satisfied, or to rest without opposition and discontent (usually implying previous opposition or discontent); to accept or consent by silence or by omitting to object.
verbTo concur upon conviction; to accept tacitly; to assent to; usually, to concur, not heartily but so far as to forbear opposition.
Sentence Examples
He will never acquiesce.
Tom will never acquiesce.
Mennad cannot acquiesce to this request.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After hours of debate, the committee finally decided to ____ to the new policy changes.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The board was forced to ____ to the shareholders' demands.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Middle French acquiescer, from Latin acquiescō; ad + quiescō (“to rest”), from quies (“rest”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The representatives of the good people of this commonwealth in general assembly convened, having maturely considered the answers of sundry states in the Union, to their resolutions passed at the last session, respecting certain unconstitutional laws of Congress, commonly called the alien and sedition laws, would be faithless indeed to themselves, and to those they represent, were they silently to acquiesce in principles and doctrines attempted to be maintained in all those answers, that of Virginia only excepted."
— 1799, Thomas Jefferson, The Kentucky Resolution of 1799:
"They were compelled to acquiesce in a government which they did not regard as just."
— 1846, Thomas De Quincey, “On Christianity, as an Organ of Political Movement”, in Tait's Magazine:
"Cathy was a powerful ally at home; and between them they at length persuaded my master to acquiesce in their having a ride or a walk together about once a week, under my guardianship, and on the moors nearest the Grange: for June found him still declining."
— 1847 December, Ellis Bell [pseudonym; Emily Brontë], Wuthering Heights: […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC:
"If a minority, in such case, will secede rather than acquiesce, they make a precedent which, in turn, will divide and ruin them; for a minority of their own will secede from them whenever a majority refuses to be controlled by such minority."
— 1861 March 4, Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address:
""They" might be ruining the world, but Mitchell's characters, by doing nothing but bitching, are only acquiescing in that ruin, and that is a luxury that neither they — nor we — can afford."
— 1982 December 4, Rob Kaplan, “Life in the Last Days”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 20, page 12:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After hours of debate, the committee finally decided to ____ to the new policy changes.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The board was forced to ____ to the shareholders' demands.