Permit — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /pər-ˈmit/ (verb) /ˈpər-ˌmit/ (noun) per·mit

Meaning & Definition of Permit

Permit (verb)

  1. to consent to expressly or formally
  2. to give leave, authorize
  3. to make possible

Permit (noun)

  1. a written warrant or license granted by one having authority
  2. permission
  3. a pompano (Trachinotus falcatus) that is an important game fish of temperate to tropical waters of the western Atlantic

Permit (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give permission for or to approve of

    "the school won't permit such an activity on its grounds"

    similar: allow, green-light, have, suffer, stand for
    related: authorize, commission, license, accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), OK, warrant, accord, concede, grant, sanction, vouchsafe, admit, brook, condone, countenance, endure, support, tolerate
    opposite: ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto
    near: hinder, impede, obstruct, censure, deny, disallow, disapprove, interdict, refuse, reject, revoke, suppress, withhold, deplore, discountenance, disfavor, dislike, frown (at or on), grudge, check, curb, keep, repress, restrain

  2. to give permission to

    "you are not permitted to swim at the town pond without a season pass"

    similar: allow, leave, let
    related: authorize, commission, empower, license, approve, endorse, sanction, free, liberate, release, cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge
    opposite: enjoin, forbid, prohibit
    near: deter, discourage, bar, block, constrain, curb, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent

  3. to make able or possible

    "we'll have our picnic on Thursday, weather permitting"

    similar: allow, empower, enable, let
    related: fit, habilitate, prepare, qualify, ready, approve, endorse, sanction, condition, equip
    opposite: prevent
    near: inhibit, preclude, disallow, enjoin, forbid, prohibit

  4. to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference

    "the college permits way too much drinking, in my opinion"

    similar: allow, let, suffer, tolerate, put up with
    related: brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, ignore, overlook, shrug off, wink (at), excuse, forgive, pardon, brook, cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge
    opposite: bar, block, constrain, prevent
    near: forbid, prohibit, curb, deter, discourage, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with)

Permit (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in concession, patent

    similar: concession, patent, liberty, pass, tolerance, toleration, accreditation, certification, acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, OK, imprimatur, seal, signature, stamp, accord, grant, allowance, authorization, clearance, concurrence, consent, granting, green light, leave, license, permission, sanction, sufferance, warrant
    opposite: interdiction, prohibition, proscription, denial, refusal, rejection, revocation, taboo, injunction, veto, deterrence, discouragement, repression, suppression, ban, embargo, exclusion

Related Entry: Permit (of) (verb)

Permit (of) is a different word from Permit. The synonyms below are for permit (of), not for permit.

  1. to make possible especially to the exclusion of other possibilities

    "the photo is too grainy to permit of anything more than a slight enlargement"

    similar: admit (of), allow (of)
    related: open up, favor, justify, support, sustain, validate, need, take, want, warrant
    near: close out, disallow, enjoin, exclude, forbid, negative, preclude, rule out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Permit

The most common words with a similar meaning to Permit:

allow, green-light, have, suffer, leave, let, empower, enable, tolerate, stand for, put up with, concession, patent, liberty, pass, tolerance, toleration, accreditation, certification, acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, OK, imprimatur, seal, signature, stamp, accord, grant, allowance, authorization, clearance, concurrence, consent, granting, green light, license, permission, sanction

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Permit

Words with the opposite meaning of Permit:

ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto, prevent, bar, block, constrain, interdiction, prohibition, proscription, denial, refusal, rejection, revocation, taboo, injunction, deterrence, discouragement, repression, suppression, embargo, exclusion

Related Words for Permit

authorize, commission, accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), concede, vouchsafe, admit, brook, condone, countenance, endure, support, approve, endorse, free, liberate, release, cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge, fit, habilitate, prepare, qualify, ready, condition

Near Antonyms of Permit

hinder, impede, obstruct, censure, deny, disallow, disapprove, interdict, refuse, reject, revoke, suppress, withhold, deplore, discountenance, disfavor, dislike, frown (at or on), grudge, check, curb, keep, repress, restrain, deter, discourage, frustrate, hold back, inhibit, preclude

Word Forms of Permit

Inflections: permitted, permitting

Derived words: permittee (noun), permitter (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Permit

Middle English permitten, from Latin permittere to let through, permit, from per- through + mittere to let go, send

First known use: 15th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Permit

Words & Phrases Containing Permit

learner's permit, work permit

Frequently Asked Questions about Permit

What does "Permit" mean?

"Permit" means to consent to expressly or formally. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to consent to expressly or formally. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Permit"?

Other words for "Permit" include allow, green-light, have, suffer, leave, let, empower and enable. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Permit" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Permit"?

There are 82 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Permit". Common alternatives include allow, green-light, have, suffer, leave, let, empower, enable, tolerate and stand for.

What is the opposite of "Permit"?

Antonyms of "Permit" include ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto, prevent and bar. Near antonyms include hinder, impede, obstruct and censure.

How do you use "Permit" in a sentence?

Examples of "Permit" in a sentence: "the school won't permit such an activity on its grounds"; "you are not permitted to swim at the town pond without a season pass"; "we'll have our picnic on Thursday, weather permitting".

Is "Permit" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Permit" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Permit" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Permit" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Permit"?

"Permit" is pronounced /pər-ˈmit/ as a verb and /ˈpər-ˌmit/ as a noun and divided into syllables as per·mit.