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Prepositions after verbs

"Acquiesce to" or "acquiesce in"?

Both acquiesce to and acquiesce in are used. To is more common for accepting demands or proposals, while in is more formal and often refers to participation or consent within a situation.

Quick answer

Should I use acquiesce to or acquiesce in?

Use acquiesce to when accepting a request, demand, or decision. Use acquiesce in in more formal English when consenting to or going along with a situation or activity.

They acquiesced to the proposal
She refused to acquiesce in the deception
The board acquiesced to management's demands

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
acquiesce to + request or demand

Accepting pressure or a decision

To introduces what someone reluctantly accepts.

He acquiesced to their conditions
2
acquiesce in + situation

Agreeing within a situation or practice

In is more formal and often suggests passive consent.

They would not acquiesce in unfair treatment
3
acquiesce to + noun

Using a noun after to

The noun usually names a plan, request, or authority.

The committee acquiesced to the change
4
acquiesce in + verb-ing

Using a verb after in

A gerund can describe the action someone tolerates or accepts.

She would not acquiesce in breaking the rules

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
acquiesce to something
He acquiesced to the decision.
Accepting or yielding to something.
acquiesce in something
They acquiesced in the arrangement.
Formally consenting to or tolerating a situation.
acquiesce in doing something
She acquiesced in remaining silent.
Accepting participation in an action or state.
acquiesce with something
They acquiesced with the proposal.
Nonstandard; use acquiesce to or acquiesce in.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using with after acquiesce

Use to or in, not with.

✕ She acquiesced with the request. ✓ She acquiesced to the request.

Choosing the wrong preposition for demands

To is more natural with requests and demands.

✕ He acquiesced in their demands. ✓ He acquiesced to their demands.

Using a bare infinitive after acquiesce in

Use a noun or verb-ing form after in.

✕ They acquiesced in accept the terms. ✓ They acquiesced in accepting the terms.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The union eventually acquiesced ___ the proposal.
2. She would not acquiesce ___ dishonest practices.
3. They acquiesced ___ changing the schedule.

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Frequently asked questions

Are acquiesce to and acquiesce in both correct?

Yes. Both are standard but used in slightly different contexts.

Which is more common with demands?

Acquiesce to is more natural with requests, demands, and decisions.

Is acquiesce in formal?

Yes. It often appears in formal or legal-style English.

abandon, by, abandon, in "abduct by", "abduct in" or "abduct from"? abide by, in, with, to or on? "abolish in" or "abolish by"? "abound in" or "abound with"? "absorb by", "absorb into" or "absorb in"? "accelerate by", "accelerate to" or "accelerate in"? accentuate by, with, in or under? accept by, in, as, for or into? "accommodate in", "accommodate for" or "accommodate to"? "accomplish by" or "accomplish in"? "accord to" or "accord with"?

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