permit

¹

[per-mit, pur-mit, per-mit]

verb (used with object)

permitted, permitting 

1. to allow to do something.

   Permit me to explain.

   Antonyms: refuse, reject

2. to allow to be done or occur.

   The law does not permit the sale of such drugs.

3. to tolerate; agree to.

   a law permitting Roman Catholicism in England.

4. to afford opportunity for, or admit of.

   vents to permit the escape of gases.

verb (used without object)

permitted, permitting 

1. to grant permission; allow liberty to do something.

2. to afford opportunity or possibility.

   Write when time permits.

3. to allow or admit (usually followed byof ).

   statements that permit of no denial.

noun

1. an authoritative or official certificate of permission; license.

   a fishing permit.

   Synonyms: franchise

2. a written order granting special permission to do something.

3. permission.

permit

²

[pur-mit]

noun

1. a pompano, Trachinotus falcatus, of the waters off the West Indies.

permit

verb

1. (tr) to grant permission to do something

   you are permitted to smoke

2. (tr) to consent to or tolerate

   she will not permit him to come

3. to allow the possibility (of)

   the passage permits of two interpretations

   his work permits him to relax nowadays

noun

1. an official certificate or document granting authorization; licence

2. permission, esp written permission

Other Word Forms

• permitter noun
• permittee noun
• unpermitting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of permit¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin permittere “to let go through, give leave,” equivalent to per- per- + mittere “to let or make (someone) go”; admit, commit, etc.

Origin of permit²

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; apparently by folk etymology from Spanish palometa palometa

Word History and Origins

Origin of permit¹

C15: from Latin permittere, from per- through + mittere to send

Example Sentences

Bass has issued a swath of executive orders to aid recovery, including providing tax relief for fire-affected businesses and streamlining permitting.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They have had to postpone the big day several times because of delays getting permits and other problems.

Read more on Barron's

No law permits this cynical manipulation of the courts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

To do so, Ms. Sherrill would employ policies from the “abundance” agenda that’s become popular among center-left intellectuals: Streamlined permits for developers, green energy subsidies, and more tax credits for business.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If your situation permits, he said, “pick two or three expenses that you are like, ‘I would really like to do everything I can to not give these up right now.’

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• allowance 
• charter 
• concession 
• consent 
• go ahead 
• grant 
• license 
• passport 
• patent 
• permission 
• privilege 
• visa 
• warrant 

When To Use

What are other ways to say permit?

To permit is to allow someone to do something. How is permit different from allow and let? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.