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

"She was free to use the computer personally when work commitments permitted and during breaks."

From BBC

Or, as some believe the Labour rulebook permits, could the cabinet designate an interim deputy leader from among their number who would, in time, be anointed permanently?

From BBC

Companies must provide evidence that flaring is necessary, and, when approving permits, the agency follows all applicable rules, he said.

From Salon

Beyond that, city officials have begun worrying publicly that Gov. Gavin Newsom might not support a state bill permitting the installation of two digital billboards that would face the busy 10 and 110 Freeway interchange.

From Los Angeles Times

The administration has been halting clean-energy projects that are fully permitted, under contract and under construction.

From Los Angeles Times

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.