Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Willing to receive or allow something; tolerant and open-minded: Describes a person, attitude, or environment that receives or tolerates people, ideas, or situations without resistance, judgment, or protest. It implies a receptive and understanding nature.

Usage

The adjective "accepting" is used to describe a state of being receptive. It often appears before a noun (e.g., an accepting person) or after a linking verb like "be," "seem," or "become" (e.g., She is very accepting). It is commonly followed by the preposition "of" to indicate what is being accepted.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • She has an accepting nature and welcomes people from all backgrounds.
  • The community was judged to be more supportive and accepting.
  • He is accepting of criticism and uses it to improve.

Advanced Usage

• "to be accepting of": This is the standard construction to specify the object of acceptance.
  • Parents should strive to be accepting of their children's choices.
• Used to describe environments or atmospheres:
  • The school promotes an accepting environment where every student feels valued.

Variants and Related Words

• Accept (verb): To receive or take something offered; to agree or consent to.
  • I accept your apology.
• Acceptance (noun): The action of accepting something or someone; the state of being accepted.
  • Her acceptance into the university was a dream come true.
• Acceptably (adverb): In a satisfactory or adequate manner.
  • The project was completed acceptably.

Synonyms

• Tolerant: Willing to allow the existence of opinions or behavior one does not necessarily agree with.
• Receptive: Willing to consider or accept new suggestions and ideas.
• Open-minded: Willing to consider new ideas; unprejudiced.

Antonyms

• Rejecting: Refusing to accept, consider, or receive.
• Intolerant: Not willing to accept views, beliefs, or behavior that differ from one's own.
• Judgmental: Having or displaying an overly critical point of view.

Related Phrases

• Accepting attitude: A general disposition of being open and tolerant.
  • His accepting attitude made him easy to talk to.
• Self-accepting: Characterized by acceptance of oneself.
  • The journey towards being self-accepting can be challenging.

Adjective

1. tolerating without protest
   • always more accepting of coaching suggestion than her teammates
   • the atmosphere was judged to be more supporting and accepting