admit
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to allow to enter; grant or afford entrance to.
to admit a student to college.
- Synonyms:
- receive
-
to give right or means of entrance to.
This ticket admits two people.
-
to register (a person) as an inpatient at a hospital.
After seeing the test results, the emergency room doctor admitted her and put her on intravenous fluids.
-
to permit to exercise a certain function or privilege.
admitted to the bar.
-
to permit; allow.
-
to allow or concede as valid.
to admit the force of an argument.
-
to acknowledge; confess.
He admitted his guilt.
-
to grant in argument; concede.
The fact is admitted.
-
to have capacity for.
This passage admits two abreast.
verb (used without object)
-
to permit entrance; give access.
This door admits to the garden.
-
to permit the possibility of something; allow (usually followed byof ).
The contract admits of no other interpretation.
verb
-
(may take a clause as object) to confess or acknowledge (a crime, mistake, etc)
-
(may take a clause as object) to concede (the truth or validity of something)
-
to allow to enter; let in
-
(foll by to) to allow participation (in) or the right to be part (of)
to admit to the profession
-
to allow (of); leave room (for)
-
(intr) to give access
the door admits onto the lawn
Related Words
See acknowledge.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of admit
First recorded in 1375–1425; from Latin admittere, from ad- ad- + mittere “to send, let go”; replacing late Middle English amitte, with a- a- 5 instead of ad-, from Middle French amettre, from Latin, as above
Explanation
When you admit something, you confess that it happened. It wasn't easy to admit that you'd broken the vase, but how else could you explain that your hand was glued to it? Besides meaning "confess," admit can also mean "let in," like a theater ticket that says "ADMIT ONE." If you admit that you have a bag of popcorn hidden in your backpack, you might not be admitted to the movie. A doorway admits you into a room, and if a room can hold up to 50 people, that room admits 50. You can even use admit for metaphorical entrances, like the way your wild style admits you into high fashion circles.
Vocabulary lists containing admit
Send a Message: Mit and Miss
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Because of Winn-Dixie
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Beowulf: A New Telling
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The mayor described his approach as: “Don’t sweep it under the rug; don’t look the other way. Admit that we have a problem.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
Packages at Admit NY typically range from the low thousands to the mid-teens, depending on the student’s age and the level of support, Shashou said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025
Admit filtering the water, and the industry risks breaking the market spell.
From BBC • Aug. 8, 2025
Admit it: You’re morbidly curious how you’d react when the KJ calls your name, the lyrics start to scroll and the bright lights shine on you.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 24, 2023
“Fourth grade wasn’t that long ago. Now, that’s weird. Admit it.”
From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
