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Synonyms

permit

1 American  
[per-mit, pur-mit, per-mit] / pərˈmɪt, ˈpɜr mɪt, pərˈmɪt /

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 American  
[pur-mit] / ˈpɜr mɪt /

noun

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

permit British  

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
"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

noun

  1. an official certificate or document granting authorization; licence

  2. permission, esp written permission

"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

Usage

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. 

Other Word Forms

  • permittee noun
  • permitter noun
  • unpermitting adjective

Etymology

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

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.

It does not, for example, permit wall hangings that don’t actually exist.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Now Brussels has updated its rules after the UK's departure, allowing all EU countries to permit non-citrus spreads to be marketed as "marmalade" from June.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

When he returned a few days later, the representative guided him to the SCE website, then told him he’d next have to get the permit from the county.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Under the EU’s emissions-trading system, or ETS, companies whose operations emit climate-changing carbon dioxide must pay for a permit for each metric ton they emit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Tante Jans, who loved medical paraphernalia of every kind, took a tremendous fancy to the new doctor and from then on consulted him as often as her finances would permit.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

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.