上述單詞均有“承認”的含義。acknowledge指承認責任或義務，所指的承認常帶有不自愿或尷尬的色彩[1 ] 。admit多指對過去否認或躲避的問題的承認，有自愿的含義[2]。concede是指在充分證據的情況下，被迫對最不愿承認的事實的承認[3]。confess 多指認罪或承認指控等[4]。
 
[1 ] “ One acknowledges something embarrassing or awkward，and usually not voluntarily； more often, the acknowledgement is extracted from one more or less unwillingly. ” Cf. The Editors of the Readers Digest , Use the Right Word, at. p. 5，The Reader's Digest Association Proprietaiy Ltd. (1971).
[2 ] “To make a voluntary acknowledgement by a party of the existence of the truth of certain facts which are inconsistence with his claims in an action. ” Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 31 , West Publishing Co. (1991).
[3 ] “One concedes, usually because of overwhelming evidence, something which he has been very reluctant to admit." Cf. The Editors of the Reader's Digest, Use the Right Word, at. p. 5，The Reader's Digest Association Proprietary Ltd. (1971).
[4 ] “To admit (as a charge or allegation) as true, proven, or valid." Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D. , Merriam Websters Dictionary of Law, at p. 94，Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, Springfield, Massachusetts (1996).