Admit vs Take him in

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Admit

Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb

Take him in

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Admit
 AdmitTake him in
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ədˈmɪt/","/ədˈmɪts/","/ədˈmɪtɪd/","/ədˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈmɪt/","/ədˈmɪts/","/ədˈmɪtɪd/","/ədˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //teɪk hɪm ɪn//🇺🇸 //teɪk hɪm ɪn//
MeaningTo say that something is true, especially something you want to keep secret.To accept someone into your home or group.
ExampleShe had to admit that she was wrong about the decision.After the storm, we decided to take him in until he could get back on his feet.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsfreely, 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 admittingtake in a guest, take him in warmly, take her in without hesitation
Antonymsdeny, refuse-
Common mistakesConfused 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 'take in' which means to absorb information., Incorrectly using past tense without 'him' (e.g., 'took him in').
Usage notesUse 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.Used in informal contexts to describe accepting someone. Not appropriate in formal situations.

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Admit
Take him in

Frequently asked questions: Admit vs Take him in

What's the difference between Admit and Take him in?

Admit: To say that something is true, especially something you want to keep secret. Take him in: To accept someone into your home or group.

Which is more common: Admit and Take him in?

Admit is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Admit: She had to admit that she was wrong about the decision. Take him in: After the storm, we decided to take him in until he could get back on his feet.

Can I use Admit and Take him in interchangeably?

Not always. Admit 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.

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