assent
Americannoun
-
agreement, as to a statement, proposal, etc; acceptance
-
hesitant agreement; compliance
-
sanction
verb
Usage
What's the difference between assent and ascent? Assent can be a noun meaning agreement, as in I give my assent, or a verb meaning to agree or give in, as in I assent to your terms. Ascent is a noun that means the act of moving upward (ascending), an upward movement, or upward movement in general. The two words are pronounced exactly the same. Perhaps the best way to remember the difference between the two is to think about what related words mean and how they’re spelled. Words related to assent involve agreement or disagreement and end with -sent, including consent and dissent. Words related to ascent involve movement and are spelled with sc, including ascend, ascension, descent, descend, and transcend. Here’s an example of assent and ascent used correctly in a sentence. Example: I asked him if he really wanted to climb the mountain, he gave his assent, and we began our ascent. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between assent and ascent.
Related Words
See agree.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of assent
1250–1300; Middle English asenten < Old French asenter < Latin assentārī, equivalent to as- as- + sen ( t )- ( see scent) + -t- frequentative suffix + -ā- thematic vowel + -rī infinitive suffix
Explanation
Assent means agreement. If you nod your head in assent, you agree to something or you assent to it. As a verb, assent is generally followed by a phrase beginning with the word "to:" You assent to a plan, an agreement, or to an idea. Assent is also something that you can give. You can give your assent to marry your partner if he or she asks really nicely. The opposite of assent is dissent –– which means disagreeing, or even protesting in a formal way.
Vocabulary lists containing assent
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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!
The Declaration of Independence
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!
Some Tricky Homonyms
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.
Royal Assent is the final procedural stage of a bill passing through UK parliament before it becomes law.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
It marks the final legislative stage for the landmark proposals before they get Royal Assent in the UK - and once approved the first legal assisted deaths could happen as early as next summer.
From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026
If the vote goes through, it will then go for Royal Assent.
From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026
It was passed at the Scottish Parliament in June this year and received Royal Assent on 1 August 2025.
From BBC • Nov. 30, 2025
Having received the Royal Assent, the Bill is now the law of the land.
From England, Canada and the Great War by Desjardins, Louis-Georges
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.
