consent
Americanverb (used without object)
-
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
-
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
Related Words
See agree.
Other Word Forms
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.
Consent is questionably obtained in disabled narratives, if it’s brought up at all.
From Salon • Nov. 26, 2025
“He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our Legislatures.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025
The A1 scheme stalled for a few years, alternating between ready to start and still on hold until, in May 2024, Rishi Sunak's government approved the Development Consent Order which gave the final go-ahead.
From BBC • May 27, 2025
Consent has become a central organizing principle, because consent goes with desire.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2024
Consent, then, to his demand is possible: but for one item—one dreadful item.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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.
