consent
Americanverb (used without object)
-
consents,
present (3rd person singular)
-
consented,
past participle, past
-
consenting
present participle
-
to permit, approve, or agree; comply or yield (often followed by to or an infinitive).
He consented to the proposal. We asked her permission, and she consented.
-
Archaic. to agree in sentiment, opinion, etc.; be in harmony.
noun
-
consents
plural
-
permission, approval, or agreement; sanction; acquiescence.
He gave his consent to the marriage.
- Synonyms:
- concurrence, accord
-
agreement in sentiment, opinion, a course of action, etc..
By common consent he was appointed official delegate.
-
Archaic. accord; concord; harmony.
verb
-
to give assent or permission (to do something); agree; accede
-
obsolete (intr) to be in accord; agree in opinion, feelings, etc
noun
-
acquiescence to or acceptance of something done or planned by another; permission
-
accordance or harmony in opinion; agreement (esp in the phrase with one consent )
-
the lowest age at which the law recognizes the right of a person to consent to sexual intercourse
Synonym Usage
See agree.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
consenternoun
-
nonconsentnoun
-
preconsentnoun
-
reconsentverb (used without object)
-
consentingadjective
-
nonconsentingadjective
-
unconsentingadjective
-
consentinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
consentsimple
-
consentssimple
-
have consentedperfect
-
has consentedperfect
-
am consentingprogressive
-
are consentingprogressive
-
is consentingprogressive
-
have been consentingperfect progressive
-
has been consentingperfect progressive
Past
-
consentedsimple
-
had consentedperfect
-
was consentingprogressive
-
were consentingprogressive
-
had been consentingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of consent
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb consenten, concenten, from Anglo-French, Old French consentir, from Latin consentīre “to join or share a feeling; concur”; noun derivative of the verb; see consensus
Explanation
Before you have surgery, you'd better give your consent, because the surgeon can't get his scalpel anywhere near your skin without first getting this permission from you. Consent is permission that can be given or taken away. On the night of the school dance, your parents might consent to extend your curfew by an hour. A homeowner who won't give a developer consent to tear down her house and build a shopping mall might finally consent after receiving a very large check from the developer.
Vocabulary lists containing consent
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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 Bill of Rights
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!
Common Senses: Sent, Sens ("Feel")
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.
See Examples For:
Stone has drawn attention by saying consent isn’t part of marriage.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
“As an actor, my biggest concern is consent and creative ownership, making sure performers have transparency and control over how their likeness, voice, and performances are being used,” von Schwarz said.
From Slate ● Sep. 26, 2026
People also worry that companies are using their videos and photos to build AI features without consent.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
Elaine Crory, a women's sector lobbyist at the Women's Resource and Development Agency, said there's a lack of awareness about when and how the glasses are being used, leading to issues around consent.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Students were allowed to do homework in the library until lights-out, but O-Hall kids had to have a teacher’s consent.
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
By claiming that “it is unconstitutional for biological parents to transfer their parental rights,” Jay told me, Uthmeier’s argument “sweeps in” adoption consents, too.
From Slate ● May 13, 2026
The transaction is expected to close in mid-2026, subject to conditions, including regulatory approvals, client consents and the support of Janus Henderson’s shareholders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025
And he can remain on our soil only when the sovereign — in the U.S., that’s “We the People” — consents to it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2025
"Technology has made it possible for them to be created by anyone, anywhere, at anytime, regardless of whether she consents," she added.
From BBC ● Dec. 13, 2024
He consents without a murmur, all join in a joyful chorus, and the curtain falls upon the lovers kneeling to receive Don Pedro’s blessing in attitudes of the most romantic grace.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
However, it added that fewer families had consented for their loved ones' organs to be donated, and there had been a reduction in the number of eligible donors.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Although 88 agents consented to the forensic imaging of their personal phones, Robbins said none of those had been imaged at the time of the hearing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
They wrote For the People who consented to be governed by it, which includes you.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
North Korea consented to freeze its illicit nuclear work and eventually allow full inspections in exchange for a multibillion-dollar package of civilian nuclear power and oil.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
But as she was sleepier than any of them—she’d been rubbing her eyes for an hour—she consented to adjourn the meeting.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
These "pre-mortem" tissue samples came from consenting patients undergoing heart bypass procedures at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
In a secure and mutually consenting relationship, of course.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
If a journalist wants an on-the-record interview with someone in Objection’s orbit, they are asked to sign an agreement consenting in advance to the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026
“If you want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here,” the U.S. senator said during a congressional hearing.
From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2026
No coward’s eye should light by my consenting!
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
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.
