permit

[ verb per-mit; noun pur-mit, per-mit ]

/ verb pərˈmɪt; noun ˈpɜr mɪt, pərˈmɪt /

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See synonyms for: permit / permitted / permitting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), per·mit·ted, per·mit·ting.

to allow to do something: Permit me to explain.

to allow to be done or occur: The law does not permit the sale of such drugs.

to tolerate; agree to: a law permitting Roman Catholicism in England.

to afford opportunity for, or admit of: vents to permit the escape of gases.

verb (used without object), per·mit·ted, per·mit·ting.

to grant permission; allow liberty to do something.

to afford opportunity or possibility: Write when time permits.

to allow or admit (usually followed by of): statements that permit of no denial.

noun

an authoritative or official certificate of permission; license: a fishing permit.

a written order granting special permission to do something.

permission.

SYNONYMS FOR permit

8 franchise.

See synonyms for permit on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR permit

1 reject, refuse.

See antonyms for permit on Thesaurus.com

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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Origin of permit

1425–75; late Middle English <Latin permittere to let go through, give leave, equivalent to per-per- + mittere to let or make (someone) go. See admit, commit, etc.

OTHER WORDS FROM permit

per·mit·ted·ly, adverbper·mit·tee

[pur-mi-tee], /ˌpɜr mɪˈti/, nounper·mit·ter, nounnon·per·mit·ted, adjective

un·per·mit·ted, adjectiveun·per·mit·ting, adjective

Words nearby permit

permillage, permissible, permission, permissive, permissivism, permit, permittivity, permonosulfuric acid, permutate, permutation, permutation group

Definition for permit (2 of 2)

permit²

[ pur-mit ]

/ ˈpɜr mɪt /

noun

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

Origin of permit

1880–85, Americanism; apparently by folk etymology <Spanish palometapalometa

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.

Example sentences from the Web for permit

In April, Nuro received a permit to begin driverless testing in California.
Hear from Lyft, Cruise, Nuro and Aurora about the road ahead for driverless vehicles|Megan Rose Dickey|August 28, 2020|TechCrunch
Environmental advocates didn’t want the board to extend the plant’s permits, but CAISO argued it needed the back-up power to meet demand.
Environment Report: Real Estate Sellers Aren’t Required to Disclose Sea Level Rise Risk|MacKenzie Elmer|August 24, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Making things more difficult, most cities only make unemployment benefits available to local residents — those eligible for hukou, the household registration permit.
Haves and Have-Nots: Pandemic Recovery Explodes China’s Wealth Gap|Daniel Malloy|August 19, 2020|Ozy
California has the biggest cap-and-trade market, but some believe it’s not always an effective emissions-curbing solution if the price of the permit is too low.
Environment Report: One Way to Force Companies to Emit Less Carbon|MacKenzie Elmer|August 10, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Auditors estimate San Diego Air Pollution Control District would have to raise pollution permit prices 44 percent to break even with expenses of the program.
Morning Report: How School Board Candidates Would Tackle Suspensions|Voice of San Diego|July 17, 2020|Voice of San Diego
“Please, please do not permit this to happen here in Florida,” wrote Cris K. Smith of East Polk County.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Before we get to all that, permit me a brief reflection on this matter of Steve Scalise.
Steve Scalise and the Right’s Ridiculous Racial Blame Game|Michael Tomasky|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We are developing a strategy next year that will permit them to march in the street.
Before the Bros, SantaCon Was as an Anti-Corporate Protest|David Freedlander|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Both the gun permit suit and the suit against the secretary of state were dismissed.
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio|Caitlin Dickson|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The training hours should jump to 80 hours for a concealed carry permit.
A Navy Vet’s Case for Gun Control|Shawn VanDiver|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mr. Brown seizes the proffered member, and gives it as hearty a pressure as the publicity of the occasion will permit.
Physiology of The Opera|John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")
The ship has anchored in the province of Ylocos, eighty leguas from here, as the weather does not permit it to come to this port.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
As early as prison rules would permit, he was with Mr. Longcluse, where the attorney awaited him.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
"But I cannot permit you to oppose yourself to a sword two inches longer than your own," cried Gaubert, almost in a temper.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Will you permit me to ride to Allahabad, sir, and tell General Neill how matters stand here?
The Red Year|Louis Tracy

British Dictionary definitions for permit

permit

verb (pəˈmɪt) -mits, -mitting or -mitted

(tr) to grant permission to do somethingyou are permitted to smoke

(tr) to consent to or tolerateshe will not permit him to come

(when intr, often foll by of; when tr, often foll by an infinitive) to allow the possibility (of)the passage permits of two interpretations; his work permits him to relax nowadays

noun (ˈpɜːmɪt)

an official certificate or document granting authorization; licence

permission, esp written permission

Derived forms of permit

permitter, noun

Word Origin for permit

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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permit

verb (used with object), per·mit·ted, per·mit·ting.

verb (used without object), per·mit·ted, per·mit·ting.

noun

SYNONYMS FOR permit

ANTONYMS FOR permit