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.

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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.

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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

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noun

1. an official certificate or document granting authorization; licence

2. permission, esp written permission

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 permit¹

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

Example Sentences

He argues it permits too many "tolerable" risks - for example, allowing flammable materials in window systems and between floors to remain even if they could let fire spread.

From BBC

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro has been permitted to leave prison to undergo surgery on Christmas Day following approval from Brazil's Supreme Court, court documents show.

From BBC

He was already bracing for a 25% premium increase because his teen son now has a learner’s permit.

From MarketWatch

We applied on a government website for a $5 permit to cut down a Christmas tree in the Willamette National Forest, which stretches along the western slopes of Oregon’s Cascade Range.

From The Wall Street Journal

Maybe they will now appreciate the need for permitting reform so projects aren’t subject to double regulatory jeopardy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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