admit

admit — verb

1. to say out loud that a fact is real, even when you would rather not — for exampl

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to say out loud that a fact is real, even when you would rather not — for example, that you made a mistake, that you feel jealous, or that someone else's idea is better than yours.

例句

Yael finally admitted that he had broken his sister's bicycle.

admit + that-clause for confessing a fact

Wren hates admitting she is wrong, even when the proof is on the table.

admit + -ing form (dropping that)

同義詞
  • concede

    more formal; often used in debates or arguments

  • confess

    stronger; suggests guilt or a secret being revealed

  • acknowledge

    neutral; recognising a fact without the reluctance 'admit' implies

反義詞
  • deny

    to say something is not true

文法句型

admit + that-clause

admit + -ing

admit + to + -ing

admit to + noun

用法筆記

Often signals reluctance — the speaker wishes the fact were different. The that-clause pattern is frequent in writing; the simpler 'I admit, ...' aside is common in speech.

常見錯誤

❌She admitted me that she was tired.
✅She admitted to me that she was tired.
💡when you name the listener, use 'admit to someone'.
❌He admitted to break the window.
✅He admitted breaking the window.
💡after 'admit to', use the -ing form, not the bare infinitive.

2. to recognise that you cannot win or finish something and to stop trying any furt

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to recognise that you cannot win or finish something and to stop trying any further.

例句

After three hours stuck on the puzzle, Daniel admitted defeat and asked his daughter for help.

fixed expression: admit defeat

The opposition leader admitted defeat once the final district reported its results.

political context: conceding an election

同義詞
  • concede

    in contests, to formally accept the other side has won

  • give up

    more general; can mean stop trying for any reason

反義詞

文法句型

admit defeat

用法筆記

Almost always appears as 'admit defeat'. Distinguish from sense 1: here you are not just saying a fact is true, you are giving up the attempt itself.

常見錯誤

❌I admitted to defeat in the chess game.
✅I admitted defeat in the chess game.
💡no 'to' in this fixed phrase.

3. to let a person or thing come into a place, especially when permission, a ticket

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to let a person or thing come into a place, especially when permission, a ticket, or a key is needed.

例句

Only guests with a printed invitation will be admitted to the wedding garden.

passive: be admitted to [place]

The guard refused to admit anyone who was not wearing a staff badge.

refuse to admit + object

同義詞
  • let in

    more everyday; same idea in plain language

  • permit

    formal; focuses on giving official permission

反義詞
  • exclude

    to keep out

  • bar

    to formally block someone from entering

文法句型

admit + object + into/to

用法筆記

Frequently passive in signs, rules, and reports ('not admitted', 'will be admitted'). The subject can be a person (a guard) or a thing (a window, a door).

常見錯誤

❌The teacher admitted us in the classroom.
✅The teacher admitted us into the classroom.
💡use 'into' or 'to' for the destination.

4. to formally accept someone or a country as a new member of a school, club, or la

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to formally accept someone or a country as a new member of a school, club, or larger body such as the United Nations.

例句

Sofia was admitted to the National University of Singapore on a full scholarship.

passive: be admitted to [institution]

The chess club only admits players who have won at least one regional tournament.

active: subject is the body doing the accepting

同義詞
  • accept

    more common; same idea but less formal

  • enrol

    from the student's side: putting your name on the list

反義詞
  • reject

    to refuse a candidate

  • expel

    to remove an existing member

文法句型

admit + object + to/into [group]

用法筆記

Subject is usually an institution, club, or international body. Almost always passive when the focus is on the new member rather than the institution.

常見錯誤

❌He was admitted in Harvard last year.
✅He was admitted to Harvard last year.
💡use 'to' (or 'into'), not 'in'.

5. to take a sick or injured person into a hospital so that doctors can look after

5.動詞及物B2
釋義

to take a sick or injured person into a hospital so that doctors can look after them and they can stay overnight.

例句

Grandma was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital with a broken hip on Sunday night.

passive: be admitted to + hospital + with + condition

The doctor decided to admit the boy for further tests on his lungs.

active: doctor as subject + 'for' + reason

同義詞
  • hospitalise

    single verb meaning the same thing; slightly more formal

反義詞
  • discharge

    to send a patient home from hospital

文法句型

admit + object + to [hospital]

be admitted with [condition]

用法筆記

Frequently passive. The pattern 'be admitted with [condition]' is standard medical English. Distinguish from sense 3: here entry is for medical care and usually involves staying overnight.

常見錯誤

❌She was admitted in the hospital with chest pain.
✅She was admitted to the hospital with chest pain.
💡use 'to' with hospital admissions.

admit — noun