Cool MateAccept vs Admit vs Embrace vs Receive vs Take him in
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Accept
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Admit
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Embrace
Top 2,000 (common)B1noun
Receive
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Take him in
Top 2,000 (common)
| Accept | Admit | Embrace | Receive | Take him in | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əkˈsept/","/əkˈsepts/","/əkˈseptɪd/","/əkˈseptɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əkˈsept/","/əkˈsepts/","/əkˈseptɪd/","/əkˈseptɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈmɪt/","/ədˈmɪts/","/ədˈmɪtɪd/","/ədˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈmɪt/","/ədˈmɪts/","/ədˈmɪtɪd/","/ədˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪmˈbreɪs//🇺🇸 //ɪmˈbreɪs// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈsiːv/","/rɪˈsiːvz/","/rɪˈsiːvd/","/rɪˈsiːvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈsiːv/","/rɪˈsiːvz/","/rɪˈsiːvd/","/rɪˈsiːvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //teɪk hɪm ɪn//🇺🇸 //teɪk hɪm ɪn// |
| Meaning | To agree to receive something or to believe it is true. | To say that something is true, especially something you want to keep secret. | To hug or accept something with happiness. | to get something from someone | To accept someone into your home or group. |
| Example | I am happy to accept your invitation to the party. | She had to admit that she was wrong about the decision. | She decided to embrace the changes at work. | I was excited to receive the package in the mail yesterday. | After the storm, we decided to take him in until he could get back on his feet. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B1 | B1 | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | noun | verb | |
| Collocations | eagerly, gladly, graciously, be glad to, be happy to, be reluctant to, from, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted, eagerly, gladly, graciously, be glad to, be happy to, be reluctant to, from, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted | freely, readily, frankly, be forced to, have to, must, to, I don’t mind admitting, freely, readily, frankly, be forced to, have to, must, to, I don’t mind admitting | embrace change, embrace diversity, embrace new ideas | regularly, automatically, currently, be entitled to, expect to, from, send and receive, transmit and receive, enthusiastically, favourably/favorably, warmly, with, regularly, automatically, currently, be entitled to, expect to, from, send and receive, transmit and receive, regularly, automatically, currently, be entitled to, expect to, from, send and receive, transmit and receive | take in a guest, take him in warmly, take her in without hesitation |
| Antonyms | reject, decline, refuse | deny, refuse | reject, refuse, shun | give, send, offer | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'except' - remember 'accept' means to receive., Using 'accept' without an object - always specify what is being accepted., Mixing up 'accept' and 'admit' - 'accept' is about receiving, while 'admit' often implies recognition. | Confused with 'admit' vs 'accept' - they have different meanings., Using 'admit' without an object, e.g., saying 'I admit' without specifying what., Incorrectly using 'admit to' with a noun, instead of 'admit' with a clause. | Confusing with 'hug' when referring to physical embrace only., Using inappropriately in formal contexts when referring to ideas casually., Mixing up with 'accept' - 'embrace' implies enthusiasm or warmth. | Confusing 'receive' with 'recieve' — the correct spelling has 'ie', 'Receive' is not used with 'to' — say 'receive a gift' not 'receive to a gift', Using 'receiving' as a noun — remember it's a verb or part of a verb phrase | Confusing with 'take in' which means to absorb information., Incorrectly using past tense without 'him' (e.g., 'took him in'). |
| Usage notes | Used when someone agrees to something offered, like an invitation or a proposal. It's appropriate in both formal and casual contexts but may become less common in very informal speech. | Use in contexts where someone is confessing or acknowledging something. It's suitable in both personal and formal scenarios. Avoid in very casual conversations where simpler words might suffice. | Use 'embrace' to express acceptance or support of ideas, feelings or physical gestures. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but may sound more emotional or poetic in some situations. | Commonly used in both written and spoken English. Can be used in formal contexts, such as receiving awards, or informal situations like receiving a text message. Avoid using it in very casual conversations where simpler terms like 'get' might fit better. | Used in informal contexts to describe accepting someone. Not appropriate in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Accept vs Admit vs Embrace vs Receive vs Take him in
What's the difference between Accept, Admit, Embrace, Receive, and Take him in?
Accept: To agree to receive something or to believe it is true. Admit: To say that something is true, especially something you want to keep secret. Embrace: To hug or accept something with happiness. Receive: to get something from someone Take him in: To accept someone into your home or group.
Can you show an example of each?
Accept: I am happy to accept your invitation to the party. Admit: She had to admit that she was wrong about the decision. Embrace: She decided to embrace the changes at work. Receive: I was excited to receive the package in the mail yesterday. Take him in: After the storm, we decided to take him in until he could get back on his feet.
Can I use Accept, Admit, Embrace, Receive, and Take him in interchangeably?
Not always. Accept, Admit, Embrace, Receive, and Take him in are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.